Hi
The reason I am writing is to ask for advice.
I am 26/m and I've been swimming freestyle 3-4 times a week. Definately enjoying it. But Im not very good.
My questions are as follows:
1. Do you have any advice on how to improve, learn new things, learn new styles of swimming? Do you have any links
2. Today I swam 1200 metres in 45 minutes. Is that horrible? How long and far should I aim for?
3. Also I tend to stop every 5 minutes - is this because Im a weak swimmer or because my technique is bad? Is that a terrible thing? I read that people swim 2500 metres a day - do they do this without stopping?
3. Should I consider seeking help with the local swim club?
Any advice or reference to discussion on similar issues would be awesome. I will continue to check around the website.
Thanks!
Hi
The reason I am writing is to ask for advice.
I am 26/m and I've been swimming freestyle 3-4 times a week. Definately enjoying it. But Im not very good.
My questions are as follows:
1. Do you have any advice on how to improve, learn new things, learn new styles of swimming? Do you have any links
2. Today I swam 1200 metres in 45 minutes. Is that horrible? How long and far should I aim for?
3. Also I tend to stop every 5 minutes - is this because Im a weak swimmer or because my technique is bad? Is that a terrible thing? I read that people swim 2500 metres a day - do they do this without stopping?
3. Should I consider seeking help with the local swim club?
Any advice or reference to discussion on similar issues would be awesome. I will continue to check around the website.
Thanks!
I'm curious how long you've been swimming, if you were doing other aerobic training before you started, etc. I've worked with many marathon runners who could barely swim a length of the pool without stopping. You have to practice swimming regularly to get fit at that modality. So the more you swim, the "fitter" you will become at swimming. Gradually increase weekly yardage instead of trying to do to much too soon, which could cause shoulder injury. Proper technique for swimming is paramount for improvement, so it would definitely help to link up with a Masters team or a stroke coach early on to avoid developing bad habits.
I am also a relative newbie and had the same questions you did earlier. Here is what I learned:
If there are any coached workouts that you can make, make it. The other swimmers will welcome you with open arms. The coaches and other swimmers will teach you things you can't learn by reading, push you to go further but not force you to do more than you want.
I am also recently learning that technique is huge and that you really want to focus on efficiency, especially for longer swims. For instance, I started in January and swam a mile in about an hour(what your 1200 time was on track for) and now I am down to a little over thirty minutes. I know that is slow for some but I am thrilled and it seems close to average, again especially for newbies.
Just keep swimming and you will build up your endurance and not have to stop so often.
Good luck!
Suggest you go over to the Coaches Forum and get their workouts. Personally I like the workouts from Kiefer: www.kiefer.com/workout-to-keep-you-thinking--pages-507.php
You will increase your distance and improve your time over a period of time. That's just the way it is. You are your best motivator. No one else can motivate you.
I started out with zero experience and now swim anywhere from 4200 - 5000 at a time, five days per week. It took a while to build up to this. I swim all four strokes.
I have personally found some swim clubs to be nurturing and will help you every step of the way. While other swim clubs are not supportive at all.
I like the USMS Forums. The Forum participants are generally supportive.
Stick with it.
Regards,
