Swimming

 Okay for all you IRONMEN out there, tell me if you were swimmers to start or if you learned how to swim to compete in TRI's. I did my first lesson tonight and have lots of things to work on, but the most pressing issue is breathing. Any pointers. Any suggestionss on how to do it correctly. I have watched a lot of YOU TUBE videos, but based on what I was told my head is too high out of the water, and my mouth position is too far forward when coming up for air. If I get it in the right position it feels like it slows me down, but if I don't get it in the right position I feel like I am rushing for air as well as swallowing some.

I am puddy in your hands tell me what I need to do. Besides don't suck water down my throat. 

Jay

I am not a strong swimmer. The only thing I know is don't pee in the pool.

Before last Decemnber, I had never swam a lap in my life.  

Look up total immersion swimming.  If you can afford a coaching sessions with a total immersion coach, go for it (I did one in an endless pool, and it was worth every penny and then some).

 and if you are starting from scratch...  1.  use bilateral breathing right from the start... (I didn't and now I can't change, and I wish I could for sighting)    2.  Use the "catch up" drill a lot at first.  You tube it.  It will teach you to be patient in your stroke.  3.  Feeling like you are slowing down is misleading... in swimming, I have found the harder you try to go fast, the slower you are going to go... the fastest stroke is fluid, relaxed and perfect in form, as opposed to just trying to be quick - being "quieter" in your stroke will actually make you faster..its all about form.. don't believe me?  check this guy out (if you can't tell, he is FLYING):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpFVvho0o4

I started swimming last year shortly before my first tri. I didn't go the swim lessons or coaching route. I watched a lot of youtube video, and took what I learned to the pool with me. The best thing I can tell you, because I fought it for months, is keep your head down. Really stare at that line at the bottom on the pool, and when you breath, turn your whole body, not your head. I'm not the best example, I am a bottom of the pack swimmer, the swim in the tri for me is a matter of survival as opposed to a way to get ahead.

Are you breathing out underwater? I wasn't (no one told me to do that when I  learned) and when I started to do that, it helped a lot!

I learned to swim as a kid at the local community pool. But it was in the 60s and swimming has changed a lot since then. Plus, it was just high school kids teaching us and I don't think they really taught us proper form. So when I started swimming for tris, I found out I was doing almost everything WRONG! I could swim the Sprint distance right away but I burned 2x the calories doing it that I burn now!

 Andrew - I have heard of the Total Immersion program and I have watched some of the online videos from it. Looks like an awesome program. Also, I am a natural bilateral breather, which is nice. I breath every third stroke. The trouble is I am not keeping my head down and the bow wave is not being generated properly. I would love to do the TI class, there is one coming up at Georgia Tech in October, but I am not sure I can justify the fee. I have dropped quite a bit this summer n my fitness toys. :)

Jillian - Yes, one of my biggest problems currently is keeping my head down in the water in order to create the "Bow Wave". I am working on this.

Mac - No, currently that is my single biggest problem. I tend to hold my breath and then try and blow out and suck in at the same time. I am aware of it, and I will be focusing on breathing out into the water, but this is the single most difficult thing for me to do in the water.

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like I think I know what has to be done, now to try and get it accomplished.

Thanks Everyone for the ideas and suggestions. Time to work on it.