How do I swim further

Hey guys! So I’m relatively new to swimming and am trying to swim further and further (freestyle), my goal is 200m My relative fitness is good as I play other sports.

What’s been happening is I start of the swim well, not tired, pretty good. Then all of a sudden after 25m, my body just shits the bed. I suddenly feel like I have no air and then slowly lose my cool.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

I’ve really been trying to work on my breathing and one thing I’ve noticed is that when I breathe, my head looks up instead of sideways.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Proper breathing is so important & yet underrated

Are you going too fast? Have you tried swimming with a snorkel so you dont have to worry about your head when breathing?

I’ve slowed down to a pace which I’m comfortable, probably 1:20 for every 50m. But I haven’t tried a snorkel, i used to swim as a kid so I know the general freestyle motion. But I’m always open to to trying a snorkel

I’m just starting too. After 50m, I’d need a breather. Improving my technique boosted endurance. One class with tips on breathing properly helped me go much further before needing a break

Try swim bobs (check YouTube). Never hold your breath—constant air exchange in/out (blow bubbles when head is down). Start with 25s, then 50, 75. Keep your ear on your shoulder when breathing; your body should rotate, and your head stays aligned with your spine. It takes time to master!