ummmm, how is best to get into swiming?!

Welcome to BT!  Tough question - I think the only way the swimming gets better is with time!  Consider taking a few lessons or read the book Total Immersion.  Work on technique and endurance before speed.  Good luck

One big word....PRACTICE!!!! Get a swim coach to help you. Have the coach watch your form, breathing, stroke, etc. It makes a world of difference!!! I still suck at the swim, but you should notice an improvement with consistent training.

Good luck!!

I never would open- water swim. I hated the fact that I didn't know what was in the water. Anyway, I got one of my friends' husbands who was a collegiate swimmer to help me out. Well, he definately helped me. He literally kicked me into the water and said that I had to get over myself and just do it. Now when I'm having a bad time in the water I repeat this mantra to myself "Take No Prisoners!" It works.

Best of Luck,

SHauna

practice...practice...practice. when i started i couldn't go 100m without feeling like i was going to die. now i can swim a mile without stopping. i got the total immersion dvd and it helped me immensely.

Welcome to the site. As with the running and biking, the swimming will get better and faster the more you do it. Get a coach for a couple of session if you are not sure about your technique. I found that my swimming improved greatly when I concentrated on only one aspect of the stroke/breathing/body roll each session. As I progressed each part of the crawl started coming together and I felt more confident and my speed improved as well.

Good luck.

Darlene