Be Excellent To Each Other

I have been swimming crawl since Jan 2015. I don't seem to be improving

I am sure it is mental and not sure how to get passed it.

Did sets today and did over 1400m, yet I struggle to do 400m with out stopping.

...

Try backstroke

More of a brain dump.... At a frustrating part with swimming. My running and biking are getting better.

Weight is coming off and bloods are stable.

Just need a way for me to tell my brain to shut up and just swim.

Don't know how....

It's just the same but on your back. Easy

Have tried it, can't do a length...

To be fair, back in Jan 2015, I could not swim crawl.

If you're not improving then it'll be down to form and technique.

I can swim easily but leisure swimming is very different to swimming to try to get somewhere quickly; the whole way you move in the water is different and you feel it in different muscles because you hold your body totally differently and the stroke lengths are longer.

Have you thought about getting a swimming coach? You probably wouldn't need one for very long if you just need a bit of correction.

You should probably try backstroke too, it'll increase your upper body strength for when you do crawl and it works the opposite leg muscles so you get a balanced workout. Better muscle balance will also help you keep good form in whichever stroke you do.

I have had a coach, he got me from drowning to swimming.

I think i is a mental thing and get flustered, when doing the breathing. Overthinking etc.

Why not try to zone out by repeating to yourself what length you're on and what you're aiming for as you swim, eg:

'I'm on length 25 - when I get to that wall I'll be up to length 26, almost at 30'.

You know, I'm sure I had a dream last night where I gave you some really good advice about this. If I remember it I'll tell you, but j can't swim do you can take it with a pinch of salt.

That's why it might help to switch to a different stroke for a while. You'll be so caught up on the technique for that in trying to not drown that when you switch back to crawl it will be more natural and you'll feel your body liking it better.

No! I remember. I think it'd because someone mentioned Duncan Goodhew.

I think I was going to suggest to be more aerodynamic you should shave yourself. Probably not that helpful after all.

Hydrodynamic.

I think flis is right and you should go back to your coach. He'll have seen all this before and he knows you. You'll get it sorted in no time.

Or ask for advice from some people on a forum who have no swimming coaching experience, whichever is cheaper.

Of course!! I've solved it!!

You need to remove those trainers before you swim.

Or wear flippers

I think those trainers are flippers.

Ah yes

Now; the world don't mooooove to the beat of just one drum...

So you're telling him to swim in the sea

Extra buoyant

Thanks guys, if nothing else it has cheered me up