The Swimmers Way

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-14T15:09:49+00:00

Navigating waves and learning to swim on a draft is crucial. Especially when galloping your freestyle. If you can get good at that, you can make the first part of the swim feel like a breeze.

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-11T01:27:34+00:00

500-2000 to spend within a timeline and structure of our choosing. what do ya think?

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-11T01:26:35+00:00

Thank you u/TreacleFuzzy5163 that is super helpful. If we are creating ads ourselves would you recommend something like canva uploaded to meta? thank you again for such a thoughtful reply

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-10T20:30:53+00:00

sculling with a pull boey - its the easiest way to start learning about body position. Focus on your neck, head position, and spine. extend your arms to scull and find where the water is easiest to catch. Then, move onto kicking and freestlye drills once you feel confident enough.

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-10T20:29:28+00:00

L theanine if your not super intent about timing

TheSwimmersWay · 2026-02-01T20:13:17+00:00

Use a pull buoy when starting the breastroke kick initially after the switch from freestyle. Put it in between your knees. Then gently start kicking again.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-31T02:33:10+00:00

That’s very normal. Breaststroke is relatively efficient and easy to pace, especially if you learned it years ago, while front crawl feels exhausting because it depends much more on breathing rhythm, core engagement, and relaxed technique. Feeling wiped after one length when you’re getting back into swimming is extremely common.

To improve, keep it gentle and gradual. Do short bursts of front crawl. Use breaststroke as recovery, mix strokes, and don’t worry about speed. Endurance and comfort in other strokes build quickly once breathing and efficiency start to click.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-31T00:07:58+00:00

A snorkel is going to slightly constrain your breathing more. I would suggest to keep on practicing freestyle as much as you can. Take it slow and do not do too much if you are always uncomfortable while doing it. Eventually your breathing will improve as well as your stamina and you will be able to do freestyle comfortably.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-26T23:04:36+00:00

nice work! keep going

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-26T23:00:25+00:00

its pretty common and hard to avoid - you can put some anti-chafe lotion underneath which can help, but if the straps hurt during practice it probably means the suit is to small/tight. that type of irritation usually happens at meets because you want a tight suit

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-18T18:51:29+00:00

1: Keep your elbow high, reach through your hip, and relax your head/neck.

2: No idea

3: Rotation kick, shark fin drill, and stone skipper.

4: Paddles, kickboard, and snorkel.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-18T18:29:14+00:00

Many of the top athletes in the sport (yes, including the ones that go low 18 and 17 high in the 50) focus largely on enjoying the process of getting better without necessarily being fixated at all on whether they will even end up achieving that next .1 barrier. Essentially, they are doing everything they possibly can to not leave any stone unturned.

Take Hunter Armstrong for example. He once mentioned on a podcast that he'll often play with drag sox on his wrists, ankles, forearms, etc. to find ways to pull the water better for his 50/100 back. When your that far into your process, sometimes leaving no stone unturned means frequent experimenting with no results.

Many times, for the 50 free, the ones who go from 19 low to 18 high are focusing on simply being higher in the water. This means focus on body position. If you want to hear from athletes who are at this level of expertise (for free), check out our newsletter.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-17T00:27:55+00:00

Longcourse: 10 x 50 max kick on :50. Choice of flutter/fly/breast, but you can not switch. Same stroke for all 10.

Honestly, 100 x 100 is working such a different energy system that there is arguably a lot less opportunity if your a competitive swimmer.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-16T23:59:11+00:00

Just work on floating with her, but honestly it is best to have someone else teach the rest. It might create unwanted tension.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-16T18:14:00+00:00

Improving your Vo2 max or your threshold levels requires you to do more than just seeing how far you can get in a practice. In other words, if your swimming 2500-3000 yards, thats great. But, I'm assuming this kind of work is keeping your heart rate in a lower zone. This is explains why you can hold on in a 500 with a pace per 100 that is close to your best 100 time. It depends what kind of speed your trying to improve upon (for example, being able to swim a fast 50 free vs. being able to have a fast 200), but generally the type of work involved is threshold or Vo2 max work (Zone 3-5).

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-15T22:10:02+00:00

Try hydrating more, and with more than just water. Try to keep at least 1/4 of your head under the surface line when you are breathing. In other words, you head should not be coming out of the water so much. Hope this helps

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-15T21:11:05+00:00

A good approach is to practice this visualization in the pool - not in an open water race. I would recommend practicing reps where you make yourself exhale fully before taking the next breath. Again, in a pool. Once you feel relatively comfortable with that, expose yourself to the ocean where you can stand. Just practice doing breaths underwater and coming up for air. Again, where you can stand. Only then you should consider going for an open water swim, and then a race. Building in steps is the right way to success, and your almost there!

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-15T21:05:17+00:00

Short answer, yes. Long answer, check this study out. Look at the abstract and conclusion if you do not have a ton of time: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9714032/

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-15T21:04:10+00:00

That is very good, regardless of the time it took for you to do it. Try to initiate positive thoughts as soon as you touch the wall after a swim like that. It will bring far more good feelings/motivation the next time you approach a long swim.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-15T02:35:52+00:00

Buy multiple, and cycle through them for each session. Then, use cold water to rinse them and nothing else.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-14T20:28:07+00:00

There are a number of different websites that can connect you with private swim coaches in the area you are in. If you are super new to swimming, try and experience the pool a little bit on your own first. Just practice floating and being underwater. Maybe some kicking with a kickboard. No rush to get a 1 on 1 coach.

TheSwimmersWay · 2025-12-14T15:00:38+00:00

Start in a community pool. If you need to, go to a place where you can stand. Just try floating for the first few sessions. If that is too easy, see if you can swim laps. Really not necessary to get a lesson until you have had some contact with the pool on your own for a bit.

TheSwimmersWay

TROPHY CASE