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
Just to wrap up this thread I started. Thank you again for all your input and suggested workouts.
Brad Hering generously gave me an hour of his time poolside yesterday. Yes Ande there was indeed some "low hanging technique fruit" that he was able to point out.
1) My hands were entering the water too soon, not fully extended.
2) They were entering centered inline with my head, rather than slightly to the side inline with my shoulders. ( a hangover from learning the sculling S curve)
Today, just by focusing on those 2 things, I was able to shave 40 seconds off my last 3rd of a mile (550m)) at the end of the workout, though I was tired!
Drills he wants me to focus on are:
1) FS stroke using fists, and
2) double strokes each side.
3) Stretch, stretch, stretch, arms high above the head, touching my ears.
All in all he said my stroke was not bad for a 58 yr old self-taught amateur. :)
Here are a couple of clips he took of me in our mini (55') pool.
Coach correcting my stroke 1
http://youtu.be/bujJ34dkfZI
Coach correcting my stroke 2 (Brad's a very upbeat, encouraging guy!)
http://youtu.be/E0BQ7Tkn7UI
Thanks again everyone for your workout suggestions. I'm encouraged. I can see at least a couple of minutes falling off my 1 mile time.
Just to wrap up this thread I started. Thank you again for all your input and suggested workouts.
Brad Hering generously gave me an hour of his time poolside yesterday. Yes Ande there was indeed some "low hanging technique fruit" that he was able to point out.
1) My hands were entering the water too soon, not fully extended.
2) They were entering centered inline with my head, rather than slightly to the side inline with my shoulders. ( a hangover from learning the sculling S curve)
Today, just by focusing on those 2 things, I was able to shave 40 seconds off my last 3rd of a mile (550m)) at the end of the workout, though I was tired!
Drills he wants me to focus on are:
1) FS stroke using fists, and
2) double strokes each side.
3) Stretch, stretch, stretch, arms high above the head, touching my ears.
All in all he said my stroke was not bad for a 58 yr old self-taught amateur. :)
Here are a couple of clips he took of me in our mini (55') pool.
Coach correcting my stroke 1
http://youtu.be/bujJ34dkfZI
Coach correcting my stroke 2 (Brad's a very upbeat, encouraging guy!)
http://youtu.be/E0BQ7Tkn7UI
Thanks again everyone for your workout suggestions. I'm encouraged. I can see at least a couple of minutes falling off my 1 mile time.
