How do I achieve the 1k in 15 min? How to prepare for 4k OW?
Former Member
Hey experienced swimmers, really need your help; 40 year old dude here who only recently returned to swimming.
Currently swim 100m in 1minute 21, 1k in under 17 minutes and 2k in about 34 minutes in a 25m pool without pushing myself too hard... Goal is 1k in 15 min in the shortish term - and I want to do a 4k OW swim in 11 months' time.
Major restrictions: No Masters, squads, coaching or even lane ropes where I live at the moment (Bavarian village), and only can train 2-3 times a week for about 1.5 hrs in a 25m pool (though there is a 50m one outdoors in summer.) Have kickboard and paddles for drills but nothing else.
Thanks in advance - all and any advice on training, plans, tools, drills and even nutrition appreciated!
Parents
Former Member
First, there was a line in medical aper about exercise progtrams taht said "SEdentary men in their earl;y forties who begin a regular exsercise program show measurable cardiac changes in as little as 6 weeks."
I've mentioned this to my boss a couple of times. She's a seasoned anesthesiologist who always makes the point "They mean good changes."
Keep it in mind - you can change your muscles, your nervous system, tolerance for pain, and your energetic metabolism easily in 5 weeks.
You're rolling the dice if you do all-out 4 K after doing that.
I can't say the best way, but a few years ago, I trained for a 3.6 k race from near-sedentary. The 100 yard training could probably use a different approach.
Here's what I did. Started with an easy 600 yard mixed stroke swim in the pool (Free, back, ***, kicking, no fly.).
Worked on increasing distance 3 X per week until I was up to 4000 yards (about 6 weeks), then switched to one weekly distance, one weekly paced mile and one weekly interval set.
I spent another 6 weeks or so doing that - longer distances, faster miles, faster intervals. Last 3 weeks, I shortened and toughened the distances and upped the mile to 1.5 mile timed swims
I could have done better with 1) more weeks 2) some stroke instruction.
Typically, my "distance" workout took me a bit longer than your 1.5 hours and the pacing and intervals took less time than that.
I found I made faster progress when I gave up doing "days-in-a-row" workouts.
YMMV.
Good luck.
First, there was a line in medical aper about exercise progtrams taht said "SEdentary men in their earl;y forties who begin a regular exsercise program show measurable cardiac changes in as little as 6 weeks."
I've mentioned this to my boss a couple of times. She's a seasoned anesthesiologist who always makes the point "They mean good changes."
Keep it in mind - you can change your muscles, your nervous system, tolerance for pain, and your energetic metabolism easily in 5 weeks.
You're rolling the dice if you do all-out 4 K after doing that.
I can't say the best way, but a few years ago, I trained for a 3.6 k race from near-sedentary. The 100 yard training could probably use a different approach.
Here's what I did. Started with an easy 600 yard mixed stroke swim in the pool (Free, back, ***, kicking, no fly.).
Worked on increasing distance 3 X per week until I was up to 4000 yards (about 6 weeks), then switched to one weekly distance, one weekly paced mile and one weekly interval set.
I spent another 6 weeks or so doing that - longer distances, faster miles, faster intervals. Last 3 weeks, I shortened and toughened the distances and upped the mile to 1.5 mile timed swims
I could have done better with 1) more weeks 2) some stroke instruction.
Typically, my "distance" workout took me a bit longer than your 1.5 hours and the pacing and intervals took less time than that.
I found I made faster progress when I gave up doing "days-in-a-row" workouts.
YMMV.
Good luck.