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.
Parents
Former Member
Wow,
SO much great advise. Thank you all so much! I don't know where to begin responding, esp since it's bedtime.
I esp liked this encouraging remark from Ande:
Because your mile takes you around 30 minutes, there has to be some low hanging technique improvement fruit for you to pick.
Thanks for that Ande, and your suggested workouts.
I found out the local Pastor/ex coach I mentioned is Brad Hering who is even listed on this site. Maybe I can rope him into a little moonlighting away from church.
Otherwise, about some other questions & comments.
Yes, I do count my strokes, and I breath alternate sides.
Rather than timing splits, I've just been wearing a HRM and recording daily Avg/Peak and 1 min cooldown rates.
I've been a fitness runner or swimmer since college 30 yrs ago, so I have always been able to keep my weight in check (I'm 6'1" and currently 180, ...that's about 5 lbs high for me)
Yes, I just went out and got a proper swimsuit. My board shorts didn't bother me when I was just working out. But last Friday going for time, they were a real DRAG!
Having read all your generous advise, I think I would be willing to give a little more than 30 minutes/day. I swim Mon-Fri...sometimes Sat for a makeup day.
Wow...to get down into the mid 20s would be unbelievable!
Back when I was leaning to swim laps in my mid-20s, the local HIgh school swim coach would give me pointers. I told him Johnny Weismuller was one of my heros. He said that the girls on his high school team had already beat his olympic records ;-)
Wow,
SO much great advise. Thank you all so much! I don't know where to begin responding, esp since it's bedtime.
I esp liked this encouraging remark from Ande:
Because your mile takes you around 30 minutes, there has to be some low hanging technique improvement fruit for you to pick.
Thanks for that Ande, and your suggested workouts.
I found out the local Pastor/ex coach I mentioned is Brad Hering who is even listed on this site. Maybe I can rope him into a little moonlighting away from church.
Otherwise, about some other questions & comments.
Yes, I do count my strokes, and I breath alternate sides.
Rather than timing splits, I've just been wearing a HRM and recording daily Avg/Peak and 1 min cooldown rates.
I've been a fitness runner or swimmer since college 30 yrs ago, so I have always been able to keep my weight in check (I'm 6'1" and currently 180, ...that's about 5 lbs high for me)
Yes, I just went out and got a proper swimsuit. My board shorts didn't bother me when I was just working out. But last Friday going for time, they were a real DRAG!
Having read all your generous advise, I think I would be willing to give a little more than 30 minutes/day. I swim Mon-Fri...sometimes Sat for a makeup day.
Wow...to get down into the mid 20s would be unbelievable!
Back when I was leaning to swim laps in my mid-20s, the local HIgh school swim coach would give me pointers. I told him Johnny Weismuller was one of my heros. He said that the girls on his high school team had already beat his olympic records ;-)
