Beginner

Hound Dog

I usually try and get to the pool at least 3 times a week but due to limited time i can usually get 30 lengths in.

What is a good amount of lengths for a beginner?

lonestargirl

Because swimming is so technique dependent time and effort are a much better estimate of how much work you are doing than the number of lengths. How long do the 30 lengths take you? How do you break them up? How do you feel after the session?

Clseeper

Firstly 30 lengths isn't what I'd consider a beginner. Beginner is trashing across the width of the pool or possibly just managing one length without dying. You've definitely graduated up from that title :-)

How much rest time are you taking between lengths? Since you have limited time, this is a great motivator to increase the number of lengths you do in a set time. Try and do an extra 1 or 2 each week and build it up that way.

iron_man

All the above are good points,

Intervals are are good way of having an intense work out when restricted for time. there are lots of different ways, but for example if you start with 100m (4lenghts of 25m pool) intervals and try to the do the 100m in a certain time, say 1 min 50secs or 1min 40 secs, depending on fitness (it could be 2mins or more)..

so if you decide to go with 2min intervals and you swim the 100m in 1 min 45 sec, well then you get a 15sec brake before you start the next 100m interval.

you need to be swimming at a faster pace then your normal swimming, almost at a sprint pace. after you notice your fitness increasing and the intervals get easier, decrease your time allowed for an interval.

best of luck!

biomed32

i would consider myself a beginnerish swimmer as i still cant seem to co-ordinate my arms and legs together so i just do my arms. in a 40 min time scale i can now manage 44 lenghts which is a vast improvement from the 24 that i started with just under a month ago and im hooked now going 5 days a week. all ill say is, start with what your comfortable with and build up form there and good luck with it