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How many swims needed per week to be of benefit?

  • 23-10-2009 04:51PM
    #1
    DustyBin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭


    Ok, ok
    So ye guys on the swimming forum probably get loads of people like me thinking that the winter is a good time to learn / improve swimming??

    My question please is how many times a week does anyone think I need to go swimming in order for it to be beneficial?

    Basically I'm a confident enough swimmer in so far as give me a snorkel and I'd go anywhere to any depth (lung capacity permitting:)). But I really want / need to improve my front crawl as I want to be able to burst out a handful of triathlons next year (from May).

    Currently I can front crawl to a max of 2 lenghts of the pool, then stop and go again. Most of the following lengths would be singles with one or two on my back for a bit of a rest. I'd cover maybe 30 lengths this way in maybe 25 mins. I find the front crawl to be very very tiring, so presume that there must be some issue with technique.

    Also am currently doing a lot of running, so time is limited, but I would like to get into the lessons sooner rather than later. I'm trying to decide should I get into the swimming now, or would I be better waiting until after my running target (half marathon early December). If I thought that once or twice a week would improve me I'd start now, if anymore per week are required I'll wait until December or January.

    What does anyone recommend?
    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    Covenline
    Closed Accounts Posts: 80 ✭✭Covenline


    try swim at least 3 times a week if possible do more

    hard to say what your doing wrong technique wise without seeing you.

    However try get in to a 50m pool and do your 2 lengths there as I find with many people set limits on themselves ( in your case 2 lenghts ) psycologicly. Im sure you could do 3 lengths easy if you just forced yourself through that barrier.


  • #3
    DustyBin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭DustyBin


    Hi Covenline, thanks for the reply
    I forgot to mention that I intend getting lessons so hopefully that should sort out any technique issues
    Regarding 3 times a week I was kinda thinking that might be the answer
    I think that I might just trick along myself the odd day that I can until Dec/Jan and will then look at getting lessons and commiting to 3 days a week at that stage
    Thanks


  • #4
    ronanoc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭ronanoc


    I had a problem similar to the OP earlier this year. I had done a number of triathlons previously but hadn't swam in a couple of years.

    I would start off at a decent pace and then after 100m I was wrecked and had to take a break. So I ended breaking every 2nd length. It took me going into the slow lane behind a friend and try to stay behind them and keep going. Basically I was starting off too fast and wrecking myself instead of starting off real slow and then building up to top speed after about 600m.

    I found going this 2-3 times a week over 12 weeks made a huge difference to my swimming.


  • #5
    mrshappy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭mrshappy


    I took up swimming 1.5 years ago when my son was born and after swimming lessons went 4 times a week and found a huge difference in my fitness. Just had another baby and going twice a week and don't see the same difference to be honest - mind you might be eating more as well lol


  • #6
    BossArky
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,877 Mod ✭✭✭✭BossArky


    Twice a week would be good to start with.

    Build up from swimming 1 length non stop to a number of lengths. Your confidence and fitness will improve within a number of weeks. Ideally get some lessons, but this should not stop you reading up on technique and putting it into practice.

    A swimming technique book I found useful was "Total Immersion" by Terry something. You'll find it on Amazon or perhaps in the library.


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  • #7
    topper75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,942 ✭✭✭topper75


    BossArky wrote: »
    A swimming technique book I found useful was "Total Immersion" by Terry something. You'll find it on Amazon or perhaps in the library.

    A fine style indeed if tri is your objective OP. I had to take my stroke apart, which was frustrating. But when I put a new stroke style together through these total immersion drills, I was way faster, way more relaxed, and could cover way more ground with less effort. It'll change your relationship with the water. I became a total frontcrawl freak!

    +1 on the 'length pscyhology' point by Covenline. Slow right down if necessary and push that distance to 3 lengths, and then take it from there the next day.


  • #8
    DustyBin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭DustyBin


    Thanks for all the good info
    Turns out that I actually bought Total Immersion earlier this week!!
    Had seen it recommended before both here and on the A/R/T forum before so went and bought it on Amazon - just waiting for it to arrive now :)
    At the moment my A goal is the half in December, and working from the base that I have I can't afford to give three days a week swimming at the moment. So, I'm hoping that by using Total Immersion, and heading down on my own 1 - 2 times a week to the pool I should be able to make strong inroads, then if in the new year I feel that I need proper lessons I can go for it at that stage.
    That's the plan at any rate.


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