How did you build your endurance? Did you use any apps?
Kiernan said:
How did you build your endurance? Did you use any apps?
I gradually learned to swim after joining an adult group class. By the tenth lesson, I had picked up the basics of freestyle and backstroke in a shallow pool that was about 90 cm deep and 10m long. After that, I started going to a 25m pool near me, which is 140 cm deep. It was tough initially, but by November, I managed to swim 44 laps there. I also tried my first deep water class this month, and I was scared, but after about 5 to 7 sessions, I overcame my fear by the end of December.
I’ve never really done any sports before, but I’m really enjoying swimming now. I swim for about 50 minutes, four times a week at that distance. I haven’t figured out how to speed up yet, but in the past two months, I’ve improved my endurance by about half a kilometer! I know it’s not outstanding, but I feel I’m at a relatively average pace compared to others. I’m still working on my technique, and I attend a group class where student athletes help me improve.
I only use the built-in apps on my Apple Watch, and that’s enough info for me for now.
@Leighton
This is really inspiring. I’m in adult classes now, but I don’t practice much outside of lessons, and treading in deep water scares me! I know I need to commit and go more often outside of class.
@Arin
Choosing a quieter, smaller learning pool really helped me since I wasn’t afraid to swim there. There were lots of older, slower swimmers, which made it more comfortable for me.
@Leighton
I’m in adult classes too and learned to swim last year. I’ve been swimming about 4 times a week for almost a year now. The farthest I’ve gone is 150m, but I see progress. I’m just looking for ways to speed things up.
Your times are fast given my own experience. Good job!
Congrats, keep working hard!
This is amazing progress in such a short time! How can the Garmin watch recognize your stroke with freestyle? Did you have to change anything?
Foster said:
This is amazing progress in such a short time! How can the Garmin watch recognize your stroke with freestyle? Did you have to change anything?
I’ve been using an Apple Watch (Ultra model, though the cheaper ones have the same swim features) for about 2-3 weeks, sticking to just the built-in apps. My experience has been great; the watch automatically tracks my swim sessions, including all techniques like kickboard workouts, and it logs the distances at the end.
I’ve heard many say the Apple Watch is better than Garmin devices. The latest WatchOS 11 has added features that could help with swimming, like training load monitoring and customizable swim workouts. You can track your own workouts, but a downside is you can only set them directly on the watch. For example, when swimming freestyle and then switching to backstroke, I have to start each lap individually. The watch tracks laps and distances automatically and also records my breaks, so I can see when I took them and how long they lasted. The Ultra model has a button to pause workouts, which is helpful if I need to fix my goggles or wait for something.
Overall, I really like the Apple Watch (especially since I use other Apple devices, so it was a clear choice for me). I’m curious, though—what makes Garmin worth it compared to the Apple Watch?
I know Garmin offers new challenges and in-depth workout feedback, but I believe I can get similar features with the Apple Watch and external apps. One feature I wish the Apple Watch had is the ability to analyze my stroke effectiveness and technique. I’m hopeful that will improve in future updates.
Have you tried Garmin? How does its performance compare?
Well done! I started around 6 months ago too. I’m not hitting the same distances yet. I was a bit more comfortable in the water than you, but I still struggled with swimming technique. I wasn’t scared of the deep end, but I’d run out of energy around 25m due to my poor form.
In my first few sessions, I built my distance from 150-400m, swimming about half an hour each time. The first time I did 500m, it took me 40 minutes (25m at a time, with lots of breaks). I haven’t gone past that much since, mainly due to some shoulder issues from my bad technique. Still, I felt I improved this week, completing 500m in 20 minutes without shoulder pain.
I didn’t manage to swim 500m as 5x100 reps until December, but I had to shift back to shorter distances because my form was deteriorating and hurting my shoulder. It got boring doing 25 and 50m reps, but if I can stick to 100s (and stretch the first one to 150-200), I can start adding more distance.
My progress isn’t as fast as I hoped, but I’ve never been a competitive athlete or been in a serious training program. I mainly did curling and biking in recent years. I’m fit but don’t really see myself as an athlete.
It’s been a fun journey. I started wanting to swim, even though I didn’t know how at first. After a couple of weeks, I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with it or if it was just a phase. But six months later, I’m still enjoying the challenge.
@Addison
I want to say great job! I get it—our experiences are quite different since I’m not even 30 yet. I rest about 10 seconds after every 25 or 50 meters, depending on the pool length. That means I take a break at the end of each lap. If I focused more on long-distance swimming rather than sprinting, my times would probably be much slower, which might explain the differences we see. I’m unsure if this approach has real benefits or if I should switch to sprints, but I enjoy it, and it keeps me active. I don’t think I could handle sprint training like you.
Regarding your shoulder pain, I face similar issues. A physiotherapist helped me find effective warm-up and cool-down exercises that have greatly reduced my pain. I suggest spending around 10 to 15 minutes (ideally 30) warming up before swimming. Stretching and strength exercises at home are critical as well. Some auxiliary muscles may be weaker, leading the shoulder joints and tendons to compensate, resulting in pain and inflammation. So please take care of yourself!
Awesome work! Can I ask for some tips as a beginner?
I’ve been at it for a month at 35. I swim six days a week for 45 minutes, but in those sessions, I barely make it to 600 meters because I find myself gasping for air after every 50 meters.
Do you have tips for improving my breathing? I exhale through my nose when my head is submerged, then lift my head to inhale, but I really bring my whole head up. I can’t seem to figure out how to breathe with just one eye out of the water, and my breathing rhythm feels irregular. This has me out of breath after 50 meters. I take breaks of 2 to 5 minutes after each 50, doing this 12-13 times in my 45-minute session.
I want to do longer swims and get a solid workout.
Thanks!
@Jonah
I’m also 29, so I can relate to your situation. I hadn’t done any sports before starting swimming, so my fitness level was probably below average. In the beginning, I was tired after swimming just 25 meters, like you. I found out that having proper breathing technique is key to building endurance. My instructors advised me to breathe after an odd number of strokes (like 3, 5, or 7) to help maintain a nice rhythm. While underwater, I exhale gradually, just enough to make space in my lungs for fresh air.
I may not know as much as others here, but I think technique is really important. If you don’t glide through the water or if you’re too vigorous with your arm strokes, you’ll fatigue faster and need more oxygen. This can tire you out for several reasons, like having the wrong head position (like looking forward), poor footwork, or not using your arms properly. I watch various videos and keep asking my instructors for the best practices for me; it helps improve my technique.
I stop every 25 meters, resting for 5 to 10 seconds. It might seem amateurish, but as a beginner, I can’t manage without breaks just like you! If anyone experienced is reading this, I would really appreciate their thoughts!
@Leighton
Thank you so much! I think I’m not gliding well and just going through the motions quickly.