getting fast...

[sunupoernomo]

i started swimming for running recovery after the san francisco marathon in july. missed alot of workouts because of work but i've gotten to the point where i can do a mile but i'm slow. used to breathe every four strokes but i couldn't sustain so i went to two. i don't kick much and haven't really learned to synch it with my strokes. any vets out there with advice?

[jcs777]

You wanna get fast at long distences or short? Swimming is like running, in that techniques can differ for different distances. Also, you obviously can't hold a 100 yard sprint pace for a 1650.
So, to start off with, I would recommend getting a ton of time in the water, as there is simply no better way to improve. The more laps you do, the better, especially if you use the repetition to tweak your stroke. As for the breathing, it's ok to breathe every 2 strokes. Some distance swimmers go for 3 or 4, but 2 is definately fine.
With the kicking, again it depends on the distance. If you watch the Olympic sprinters in the 50 or 100 meter distance, their feet are going as fast as they can possibly move them. But if you then watch great distance swimmers you'll see that they're taking maybe 2-4 kicks per stroke, a much reduced rate.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of practice, and this goes for any and all aspiring swimmers out there. Perhaps more than any other sport, practicing in the athletic element is crucial in swimming. Obviously you also want to ensure that you aren't practicing the wrong stuff, and for that there are tons of resources on the web and elsewhere.
Best of luck in the pool!

[sunupoernomo]

i usually do 2 laps and then stretch and go right into a mile. the pool i use is 30 laps to a mile. my level of fitness is pretty good but i know nothing of technique. i'm not trying to be competitive, my job just requires me to be a capable swimmer and i like it and it's a great recovery exercise for a runner like me. who knows maybe i'll do a tri if i can get over how much i hate cycling (prefer just to use my own body, i understand why others like it). can you recommend any sites for kind of a beginner who's never had a coach or a class?

[nitro28]

actually swimming fast require long strong strokes, and each breath can cost as much as a second. Kicking should use your entire body to get as much force as possible. Try breathing less and reaching as far as possible, also try to roll with each stroke, keeping your head at angle and straight in front of you.

[Willie D]

Originally Posted by sunupoernomo

i started swimming for running recovery after the san francisco marathon in july. missed alot of workouts because of work but i've gotten to the point where i can do a mile but i'm slow. used to breathe every four strokes but i couldn't sustain so i went to two. i don't kick much and haven't really learned to synch it with my strokes. any vets out there with advice?

Some ideas:

1. If your legs are getting tired, use a pull-buoy in between your legs. This will let you concentrate on your shoulder motion.

2. Best thing to concentrate on is keeping your back straight, rotating your shoulders into the stroke like your back was an axis.

3. SKPKS (swim-kick-pull-kick-swim) intervals are a good way to work on technique. Start your kick workouts with flippers on if you think you're going too slow. Pick a distance for each interval, maybe start at 200 yards or something.

FWIW, the world record in the 1500 meters is 14 minutes and change.

[emreka]

El yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. You go now lady.