Beginners Advice

Dublin Spur

I just started swimming recently after picking up an running injury.
I have always used running/jogging at a tool to keep my weight down.
I'm a big lump and need to keep active to avoid ballooning.
I did a marathon last year and I think I may have caused permanent damage.

Anyway, I hadn't been in a pool (bar holidays) for 20yrs (I'm 37 now)

I learned how to swim when I was a kid but never really got into it
There's a lovely 50mtr pool at my gym and I'm really enjoying swimming now, I don't think I'll go back to the running.

Anyway I was looking for some insight into my routine which has evolved over the past few weeks, I don't know how much value/goodness/calorie burn I am getting from each session. I would also like to know if I should consider changing my routine to maximise the results.

My routine is quite basic,
I currently swim 1,500mts per session, this takes around 65/70mins to complete (all breast stroke)

I swim 50mtrs (1 length) at a time with 1 min breaks inbetween lenghts. It takes me around 75secs to complete 50mtrs and I am doing this 3 or 4 times a week.

Any info/insight would be appriciated

Seaswimmer

You will get much better advice from others but the thing that jumps out to me is the amount of rest you are taking after each length. 1 minute seems excessively long. Cut your rest down or alternatively try 2 lengths (or more) without a rest. Also can you do any other strokes. Something like freestyle would get your heart beating a bit more I would think and use more energy. I think if you are able to spend that amount of time in the pool then you should be making the most of it and keep moving

Dublin Spur

Seaswimmer wrote: »

You will get much better advice from others but the thing that jumps out to me is the amount of rest you are taking after each length. 1 minute seems excessively long. Cut your rest down or alternatively try 2 lengths (or more) without a rest. Also can you do any other strokes. Something like freestyle would get your heart beating a bit more I would think and use more energy. I think if you are able to spend that amount of time in the pool then you should be making the most of it and keep moving

yes I'm trying to reduce the rest time, trying to get it closer to 30secs. Did 1,600mtrs in 65mins today so I'm going in the right direction I think.

I will give freestyle a go soon and mix it up a bit between that and breast stroke. It seems a little intence compared to the breast stroke, but I'm prepared to give it a go.

Thanks for the info

cjt156

Slow down, rest less, swim more.

I used to be the same when I got back into swimming a few years ago. I'd go hell for leather for a length and then need a minute to recover. I thought I was a champion until I noticed that the old salty dog in the pool 3 nights a week was swimming slower than me but never stopped. I'd get frustrated by him & overtake, but he must have been doing 1200m non-stop. Where I was doing 33m and nearly killing myself, he'd give a sympathetic nod as be passed me doing his turn.

So I concentrated on frontcrawl technique, got the rhythm and breathing working. Soon I was doing 200m, 400. Then sets of 400 up to 1600. Then 1k non stop, 2k non stop.

If you are doing a marathon you don't treat it like a series of 100m sprints. Slowing the pace & working on technique will pay off in time.

PGF

cjt156 wrote: »

Slow down, rest less, swim more.

Excellent advice.

Get front crawl lessons, join a club (after a while) and aim to do some open water swimming in the summer. Will give you something to aim for and you'll love it.

Dublin Spur

I stuck with it and still really enjoying it - followed the slow down / rest less advise

Now I usually cover a mile in around 45/46 mins

Trimming down a bit too

What's not to love about swimming ?