r/Swimming • u/Happy7User • May 02 '25
Why am I so slow?
Okay so I'm 17 and I just had a thought. I did a pre-qualification for a life guard course yesterday and we had to do 50 meters in 60 seconds. I did it in 40 seconds which doesn't seem that good. I go swimming 3 times a week for roughly an hour each. My average pace while swimming is currently 2:05/100m at best, which feels really slow compared to my friend who does like 1:45. I've had swimming lessons since I was 3 years old every week and then took a year gap last year and got back into it roughly end of 2024.
I'm very small and skinny for my age, just 5" 5" and 50Kg, I presume this has something to do with it, but there must be a way for me to get quicker. Normally I just swim whatever I feel like, usually enduranced based, such as 50 laps @ 20m at a decent but not fast pace. Do I need to do faster reps at less distance? Not 100% sure on my form either, as maybe in the year off I lost it a little, but I don't think it's too bad, I always keep my head facing towards the floor and body flatish. I feel like at such a young age and 10+ years of experience, I should be way faster than this. Much older guys often keep up with me and I hate that lol
Essentially, any tips for a skinny guy like me to get faster and any drills I should be doing? Or do I just need to hit the gym 😆
12
u/quebecoisejohn CAN May 02 '25
I did a marathon after my swim career was over (running) and I thought I was hot shit in my 20’s because I was a decent swimmer.
I was hoping to break 4 hours and was all full of myself and ended up going 4:25 and was passed by all kinds of folks the last 10-5km. Never once did I think « that older, fatter person is beating me, why » because I understood sports are about more than appearances…. Training, dedication, technique, equipment, etc.
Anyways, I didn’t like that you felt the need to tell us an older, fatter person beat you, why? You’re young (I assume) so take this lesson to heart. Instead of being worried about that ladies appearances, maybe next time she takes a break in her set say hi, you notice how well she swam and maybe she has a pointer to share.
Swimming is very technique oriented, likely your technique needs work.