Getting into it

pkeno

Hi all,

Due to a recent injury I've been doing a good bit of swimming to try and keep up my fitness. I did lessons for years when I was younger so have the basics down (I hope).

I've really enjoyed it and am considering taking it on more seriously, i.e. join a club. I've always wanted to do a triathlon so I suppose this will help me in that regard.

Anyway my question is how best should I effectively spend my time in the pool. At the moment I'm going in and just swimming away length after length. I started off managing 40 lengths broken down into 4's and 8's but during my last visit I did 100 including a 30 and a 40 non stop block.

Is this any good at all for me? I notice my stroke becoming fairly erratic towards the end of those big blocks. I have a decent level of fitness from football so I think stamina rather than technique is pulling me through!

So, in summary, should I be doing shorter distances concentrating on increasing speed or keep going with the long stuff?

Sorry for the essay!

pkeno

hunnymonster

Mixing it up will bring the greatest gains. Most swims would be
warm up
drills
swim sets (for speed or distance or something)
cool down. Google will throw up lots of examples e.g.

Duration 30-45 mins Distance 1500m Pool length 25m Warm up
• 2 x 100m Freestyle Swim (even pace), rest 0:20 / 100m Freestyle swim at a steady pace. Build up (repeat 3 times)
• 1 x 50m Single Arm with fins (arm out front) 6 x left, 6 x right, 6 x full stroke, rest 0:10 / 50m Freestyle using one arm at a time, focusing on shoulder and hip rotation. Complete 6 arm strokes with the left arm then 6 strokes with the right arm, followed by 6 strokes using both arms. The non-stroking arm is held out front in a streamlined position. • 1 x 50m Streamline Kicking with fins, rest 0:10 / 50m Freestyle kick with arms held out front in a streamlined position. Fingers overlap with one thumb lightly gripping the opposite hand. Lift your chin above the water to breath without turning your head. Core
• 2 x 200m Freestyle Pull with a pull buoy, rest 0:30 / 200m • 2 x 200m Freestyle Swim with paddles, rest 0:30 / 200m Warm down
• 4 x 25m Backstroke Easy, rest 0:10 / 25m Backstroke swim at a slow, relaxed pace. Concentrate on long slow strokes. • 4 x 25m Freestyle Push & Glide, rest 0:10 / 25m Freestyle swim, pausing at the end of every stroke with arms out-stretched, one held out front, the other held loosely against the body.

pkeno

Thanks for the reply hunnymonster. I'll try out that session. Just have to get my hands on some fins and gloves!