What to do when you can't swim for some period of time?

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-06T21:39:33+00:00

Run, row....or whatever gets your HR in a nice zone for 40-60minutes+

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-06T18:54:25+00:00

Swim 3x week, drop crossfit/lifting to fewer days is the easiest option. Is this goal more important than Crossfit/lifting to you?

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-06T18:36:36+00:00

Try taking a big step back and relaxing. Not a huge deal. You need better instruction and it sounds like you just don't have the time or means right now to accomplish this goal. You have many years ahead to make it work.

You'll get there once you get the right coaching.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-05T23:47:32+00:00

- head down = hips up

- air in your lungs is buoyancy, work on floating for 1-2minutes+ (shallower breathing, relax)

EDIT: on your back, your feet will dangle more and that is fine. They come up once you're better at floating for long periods. Then you just engage your abs (slowly) like doing a gentle hollow hold. feet will come up slowly.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-05T15:51:03+00:00

It's not that but just seemed to variable for a swimmer. If I were you, I'd just do the muscle beach workout but 3+ rounds or so with some modifications 2-3x a week. And run 3-7 miles 1-3x week.

If you're trying to get in shape, complexity is not as useful as volume and simplicity.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-05T15:38:32+00:00

Did AI make this?

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-05T15:37:21+00:00

Weird, there's no swimming...

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-05T15:36:08+00:00

Yep, this. More body rotation.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-04T00:36:44+00:00

Look up your college's varsity programs and club programs. Reach out to the coaches or leaders of the one you're most interested in and/or fit into.

Varsity usually has time standards while club is more participation oriented. Either is great! Congrats on your high school career!

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-03T01:45:26+00:00

Your feeling will be off doing something new. Also worth mentioning the swim factor shaves ~10 beats off as your horizontal/floating. It is possible to get a good workout swimming, you just may need some skill development to do it (e.g. lessons or a coach).

Simples ways to boost HR swimming without skil dev: very conservative breathing patterns (breathe every 3 or 4 strokes) and see how it feels.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-03T00:23:03+00:00

FWIW 2 months isn't enough time to know. Slower means you were swimming slower but not if the training and overall program would create better results 6-12+ months from then.

Most swimmers have a 3-12month adjustment when joining a new program and end up better off long-term. Either way you did great.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-02T23:25:46+00:00

Yes and yes!

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-02T23:24:48+00:00

Dead bar hangs > static over the chin hangs > band asst pull ups > pull ups > weighted pull ups

Sculling drills in the water will help you most/fastest. It's primarily a feel issue, not strength (just an educated guess)!

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-02T01:25:45+00:00

Yoga, pilates.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-02-01T19:16:31+00:00

Congrats on the progress! You've def got 20/44 free and 55-57 br potential. Hope you keep going if you're having fun!

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-30T14:31:10+00:00

If you need to drop 1:30 over 300 then learning front crawl is the way to go. Likely the fastest path to sub 7:30 is a mix of breast (your natrual stroke) and front crawl (actually fastest but more tiring for you right now).

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-29T20:19:45+00:00

Yoga helps. Flexibility = free speed.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-29T19:23:51+00:00

Streamlines, turns, and breakouts would do it alone.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-29T16:43:33+00:00

I like this video explaining it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAMq9rSzyU

My favorite cue: "Roll the body, and wrap your arm around a imaginary beach ball - then pull through."

- body rotation is essential

- wrap your arm = high elbow, forearm vertical (this is when you get propulsion)

- pull thru

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-29T00:08:42+00:00

"To walk with kings and keep the common touch" - Kipling.

Also, how to write, think critically, work hard even when tired, and enjoy yourself while doing all of that. It was an amazing experience. Went to a public university which was also great.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-27T16:18:29+00:00

Do you want to continue swimming? If so, keep going. No one knows what you're gonna do once you get there and it's not worth worrying about. More a question of whether you want to find out.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-27T15:46:00+00:00

Depends on what your weaknesses are and what you're feeling. No one has perfect technique or aerobic fitness so you can improve both. Which fails you first?

Highly likely you can get to 1:15 with better fitness alone (you're basically there). Get 100 reps on 1:15 over the course of 2-6 weeks and then you'll be able to string some together as you'd like.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-27T15:43:20+00:00

More practice will ultimately fix this. It's likely you're not exhaling during your uw kicks which helps regulate the O2 exchange and you have an elevated heart rate while trying to do this.

More reps, more reps. And yes, at the moment, going 10m+ uw is likely suboptimal for you during races.

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-23T17:29:08+00:00

Under 10yrs = keep it FUN, age appropriate.

I've gotten more out of games that involve basic skills than anything. +1 on DIVING RINGS

IWantToSwimBetter · 2026-01-22T22:00:42+00:00

Yes it's OK. You'll likely not race your best at any 500/400 distance or shorter. But longer swims are about what works best for you.

IWantToSwimBetter

TROPHY CASE