Possible to improve 30min distance w/only 30min sessions?
Former Member
Hi,
This is my 1st post.
I have been a fitness swimmer (off & on depending if I lived near a pool) for nearly 30 years, since my mid-20s when I taught myself to swim a mile freestyle non-stop. (I had a few pointers from a local swim coach back then)
My times have always been around 30 minutes, give or take.
I am now retired and have a year round indoor pool. It's short... 56 feet I think. 48 laps= 1 mile. Yes, it's a lot of flip turns.
I still do dry land, weights, pushups & chin ups etc.
But I don't like spending more than 30 min in the pool. Typically, it's mostly freestyle, with a few backstroke & kickboard thrown in...all nonstop & flip turns.
I went all out on Friday, and still fell just short of a mile :-(
My question: Is it unrealistic to expect to improve my time without spending more time in the water?
No Masters around here (Camano Island Wa), but I did hear a local pastor used to coach a Brazilian Olympic team...
ps I was just reading some threads here and found out the S curve stroke is no longer advised. Ha! News to me. Maybe that's my problem.
Hi Paul! My :2cents: ...
I would say yes, it is possible to improve your time to under 30 minutes. The main idea is that 96 lengths of your short pool equals 96 times 1 one length at a time. Make each length exactly the same as all others, improve the efficiency and speed of each length, and your time will fall.
How many strokes do you take per length? Be conscious of the number. Better distance per stoke usually means more efficient use of energy, so in general, to a rough first approximation, fewer strokes per length is better. What is your breathing pattern? How many breaths per length do you take? How many do you need to stay in equilibrium? Also work on the push, and try to improve your streamline off the wall.
My numbers for a decidedly non-record-setting 21 minute 1650 in a 25 yard pool (after the first few hundred to settle in): 13 strokes per length with 7 breaths per length for the first 800, then 15 strokes per length, 8 breaths per length the rest of the way (I breathe once per cycle on the right). I've watched much better distance swimmers than myself; each has a highly stereotyped stroke & breathing pattern they follow on each length. Play with your numbers and your patterns to find what works best for you.
Hi Paul! My :2cents: ...
I would say yes, it is possible to improve your time to under 30 minutes. The main idea is that 96 lengths of your short pool equals 96 times 1 one length at a time. Make each length exactly the same as all others, improve the efficiency and speed of each length, and your time will fall.
How many strokes do you take per length? Be conscious of the number. Better distance per stoke usually means more efficient use of energy, so in general, to a rough first approximation, fewer strokes per length is better. What is your breathing pattern? How many breaths per length do you take? How many do you need to stay in equilibrium? Also work on the push, and try to improve your streamline off the wall.
My numbers for a decidedly non-record-setting 21 minute 1650 in a 25 yard pool (after the first few hundred to settle in): 13 strokes per length with 7 breaths per length for the first 800, then 15 strokes per length, 8 breaths per length the rest of the way (I breathe once per cycle on the right). I've watched much better distance swimmers than myself; each has a highly stereotyped stroke & breathing pattern they follow on each length. Play with your numbers and your patterns to find what works best for you.
