Does anyone here swim?

[cindyleigh]

Today a started a "tub to 1 mile" challenge thing.  Kind of like couch to 5K.  The idea is to work up to swimming 1 mile continuously.  You start at 700 yards.

Today I swam a mile.  But not continuously.  I can't even swim 100 yards continuously.  So I swam laps taking a break every 25 yards, sometimes just for a few breaths and every 50 or so a bit longer.

What exactly is "continuously"? 

[Richard21142]

What exactly is "continuously"? 

Without stopping!

[cindyleigh]

Without stopping!

Well...yabbut...I don't know how to do an underwater turn.

I can't imagine swimming for an hour without any kind of break. 

[Richard21142]

You start with a distance that is comfortable.  When you adapt, you swim a little further, etc.

I wouldn't worry about flip turns.  Just touch the wall and turn around (this coming from a non swimmer).

[cindyleigh]

[quote author=cindyleigh link=topic=111982.msg2727832#msg2727832 da

I can't imagine swimming for an hour without any kind of break. 


You start with a distance that is comfortable.  When you adapt, you swim a little further, etc.

I wouldn't worry about flip turns.  Just touch the wall and turn around (this coming from a non swimmer).

Thanks Richard.

Today I swam 100 yards continuously!!!!  So, I think your advice is perfect ...just work up to it and don't worry about flip turns.  I tried to stay underwater when I reached the wall to keep myself from hanging too long.

I think I'll make swimming a 1/4 mile as my 6 week goal.  That is 4 100s ...I think that is doable.

[Cool Foot Luke]

I haven't in a while, but I worked my way up from a couple of laps to 2 miles continuously. Just do as much as you can, take a break at the wall if you need it, it WILL get easier.

Another thing to try is switching to breast stroke for a while if you run out of air. Sometimes a lap of breast stroke could keep me going for a few more laps of crawl. Backstroke could also work, but I'm absolutely terrible at backstroke.

I never really got the hang of flip turns.

[MoCo]

I know this is old but I just saw this.     I swim quite a bit so I'm happy to answer questions if you are still working on this.  Maybe PM me though since I'm rarely over here.

And what you want is an open turn - goswim has a great video series on how to do them.  I swim 20K yards a week and I don't flip turn.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx31AJjif0o