400yrd swim

[jepuskar]

I tried my 400yrd swim last night...had to do 15 laps...

I got to about 5 laps and called it quits..all I have to do is finish it and I couldn't. Kind of embarrassing, but considering that is the farthest I have ever swam in my life...not very surprising to me.

I am thinking of practicing there with a mask and snorkel and just going thru the movements getting comfortable while working out.

I kicked butt in all the other stamina excerises, but I knew this one was going to be tough for me.

Should I get swimming lessons or just build up my stamina doing the snorkel until I can get it done. I was flat out tired and thats why I quit..poor form probably was the cause...I was on my back most of it..just ran out of gas.

Any suggestions?

JAson

 

[Walter]

Get Total Immersion, read it, practice the techniques. You'll get better as you practice.

 

[jepuskar]

Thanks Walter, just ordered it. Will be here next week.

I wonder if the book is waterproof. :wacko:

 

[jbd]

I agree with Walter about the book. Will also pass along this tidbit of swimming info. Swimming is extremely energy inefficient.

In the cream of the crop of the world class swimmers only 3% of the energy expended is transferred into forward motion through the water---probably why you were so tired

Total Immersion really focuses on perfect streamlining of your body.

One other tidbit--doubling speed quadruples drag.

Unless you are swimming to a time standard, swim slowly and with perfect streamlining.

Learn as many different strokes as you can. Makes it easier to keep going when a specific set of muscles gets burned out.

 

[scubamax]

Jason,

If you get pooped at about 130 yards, then how did you pass the 200 yard test to get you certification just last year?

Did you slide out of shape that fast ?:wacko: (probably not)

Get some pool time in to work up on your endurance and take it nice and easy. Within a few weeks you will be there. Between the book and a few sessions to get into the groove, you will be impressed with your progress. Its also a great way to stay in "water shape".

After reading the "should non-swimmers be divers" forum over the last year, it seems that there might be more than a few of us who may not be able to meet the basic swimming criteria for certification.

Without beating that horse in this forum, it would be a novel idea to require the swimming test for any advancement in the certification ladder..i.e OW to AOW, etc. just to make sure that individuals are competent in their basic water skills/comfort, without the benefit of the rig, etc. It would add a real criteria to AOW, for example. Doing it in open water with just a 2 foot chop and a bit of a surf would really be asking a lot of some people.

Jason, please do not take this as picking on your situation, but it just got me thinking on this whole issue. Why require a 200 yard swim to get certified but nothing more than that unless you are pushing for a much more advanced qualification? (which I presume you are)

Scubamax

 

[drbill]

Although I haven't done it yet, I thought DM certification required two swim tests?

Dr. Bill

 

[jepuskar]

For my open water, I chose the 300 yard snorkel over the 200 yard swim...that is how I got away with that.

For the 100yrd tired diver tow I scored a minute 40 something...which is pretty darn good...and no I wasn't towing a midget.

For the 800yrd snorkel I missed a 5 by 40 seconds.

I dont think I am in horrible shape, but when it comes to swimming I just plain suck. Never had any lessons, heck, havent been real comfortable in water until after being certified.....I think very poor form tired me out too quick.

I'll finish the swim, it might not be pretty, but I'll do it. That is all I have left to do besides turn in my Emergency Assistance Plan.

That book is on it's way..I'll read some of it and I'm sure it will help me get thru this.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[zeN||]

Just keep doing what you are doing, stay disciplined, maintaining regular swimming practise while increasing your laps-that's what produces stamina zeN

 

[Uncle Pug]

You can do it Jason.

 

[Kat]

All 3 of my kids swim competitivly. They do a 1000 as a warm up, then the tough workout begins. When I did my OW I had to do a 200 yard swim. No problem, my 6 yr old swims more than that. The first 25 was great, after that it was pure torture. And I have swam all my life.

It's all about endurance. Just like running. Start slow & add a few more laps each day.

There are swim teams for adults. Do a search on the web for USA Swimming. They'll whip ya into shape, in the pool.