New swimmer: do yo ever stop being bored?

Question

Hello...

I've been a distance runner all my life. I run for hours (literally) and never get bored. A lot of people tell me they don't run because it's boring for them, but I just don't feel that way at all.

But, as for swimming--I can't swim for more than 20 minutes without getting so fed up! I don't know why. I really only swim for about 20 min and am even pretty content to have lasted that long.

I'm using swimming as a cross training activity about twice a week. I like the feel of floating and moving in the water.... but I really just get BORED.

I'm not very good... but not bad either. I tend to rest between laps for a few seconds just for the sake of it. I feel like I can't concentrate on it.

Did anyone else feel this way when they started? How can I get over this? Water iPod is not an option, haha.

Thanks (:

Answer 1

To get over it I try to set small goals for myself.  Try looking at a pace clock and seeing how long it takes you to swim a certain distance.  Then try to go 3 seconds faster or after you get to know your speed try to predict your time.  For me its like a game you can play while working out.  Also try finding someone with the same swimming goals as you and set up times to swim with them, just having someone to talk to helps.

Answer 2

haha when I was reading this I was thinking "water iPod" the whole time up until the last sentence. It's nnot an actual iPod though, it's just a case that you have to buy, my friend has it, and it's awesome.

I am a swimmer, and when I have to swim long distances (one time i had to go for 1.5 hours w/o stopping) I just think about random stuff. Like what I have to do for the rest of the day, what I'm going to wear tomorrow, what I should during the weekend. Or I sing to myself, but then I have that song stuck in my head the entire day.

To make your swimming more interesting switch up strokes, just freesyle can get quite boring. Do a medley (fly, back, breast, free). Do some exercises that concentrate on specific muscles like kicking on your back, or a pull (where you stick a bouy between your legs, and just use your arms. Find some drills online that you can do to help with strokes.

I taught myself to swim when I was sixteen (like actual strokes, I knew how to swim before that) and when I started doing endurance training I would get really bored and would leave. I have a friend who is a varsity swimmer and she started making up workouts for me. I would usually see her every day and she would write what I would have to swim on a post-it note which I would then stick on my water bottle. I would then be working towards something, and would almost always finish the whole workout.

If you need some workouts email me and I'll make some up for you.

Answer 3

To be honest if you find it boring now it probably won't change. I am a competitive swimmer and adore swimming lengths, i'm the same with running i love running and never get bored. But i hate biking its so repetitive. No matter what i do i hate it. My friend is like you, loves to run but hates to swim. Even when we go together she's bored within 15 minutes, meanwhile i could spend the day there.So i mean you can keep swimming but i doubt you'll grow to like it, its just one of those things.