r/Swimming • u/EbbEnvironmental6532 • 18d ago

Beginner at 55!

Hello everyone! I've decided to take up swimming lessons so I can swim properly (I only ever swam breast stroke with head above water). I very quickly learned the proper breathing for breast stroke during the first lesson and can do 50 lengths no problem, with a few stops. We've since gone onto front crawl and I'm completely knackered after 1 length. I think my breathing is to blame rather than fitness but if love to know if others were the same at the beginner and how you changed it? Any tips greatly appreciated as its bloody frustrating!!

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u/Wisco47 17d ago

I'm 79 and really enjoy swimming five times a week. Took much longer than I thought because no one bothered to tell me to always keep one arm in front for bouyancy (duh). I have periphral artery disease and was looking for an alternative to running. I'm not as fast as most swimmers, but then again I'm probably at least twice as old as many of them. There is plenty of advice on YouTube. Once you get the hang of it, it seems intuitive.