Hello Everyone!
I am new to the forums and fairly new to swimming. For the past 4 months, I have been swimming about 4-5 mornings per week. I have never had any formal swimming training (I quit the swim team during the first meet when I was 6 years old because the water was too cold, but I'm 26 now), so I have no idea how my technique is, but I at least have the basics down. Anyways, I worked my way up to where I could swim 1 mile non-stop. It typically takes about 38 minutes. It used to take longer, and it was fun to see the improvements, but now I am at a plateau.
I am looking for suggestions and possibly workouts on how to cut time on the mile. Any help would be much appreciated. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Thanks in advance, and I look forward to reading your responses.
Hello Everyone!
I am new to the forums and fairly new to swimming. For the past 4 months, I have been swimming about 4 - 5 mornings per week. I have never had any formal swimming training (I quit the swim team during the first meet when I was 6 years old because the water was too cold, but I'm 26 now), so I have no idea how my technique is, but I at least have the basics down. Anyways, I worked my way up to where I could swim 1 mile non-stop. It typically takes about 38 minutes. It used to take longer, and it was fun to see the improvements, but now I am at a plateau.
I am looking for suggestions and possibly workouts on how to cut time on the mile. Any help would be much appreciated. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Thanks in advance, and I look forward to reading your responses.
you said you currently swim a mile in 38 minutes
1 mile = 5,280 feet = 1,760 yards = 70.4 lengths of a 25 yard pool
38 minutes x 60 seconds = 2,280 seconds
2,280 / 17.6 = 129.54 seconds, so right now your pace is 2:09.5 per 100
you need to improve the pace you can hold in your race.
Technique is the quickest most significant wayfor a novice to improve.
Improve your push offs, streamlines, kick, and your swimming technique
how often are you breathing?
How many strokes do you take per length?
How much time are you spending in and out of the flags?
consider getting one on one technique instructions
also watch videos of great swimmers and copy them
have a friend video you swimming, load it up on youtube, then post a link here and ask for feedback
reduce effort when you swim
Total Immersion Swimming Freestyle Demo by Shinji ... - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch
Mental
Improving your mental approach is another great way to improve.
Getting psyched in the moment is one way but more so, using your mind to improve your swimming ability
show up on time, join a team, have training partners, push yourself, improve your technique ...
Improve your conditioning by training further faster harder more often
Swim faster in practice.
Improve how you pace the mile swim.
Improve your equipment. Swim suit.
You can Swim Faster Faster. YOu've got a lot of low hanging fruit left to pick. you can toally signficantly improve.
Swim Faster Faster Index: Updated Oct 17th, 2012
SFF Index PART 2
38 minutes to swim a mile is very slow. This tells me your technique needs a lot of work. If you want to get faster you need to improve your technique. Take some lessons. A good instructor or coach will be able to give you immediate feedback on how you can improve.
Fixing your form will be the quickest way to see more improvements. It will also help prevent injury.
Finding a masters team where formal coaching is available would be the easiest route to work on technique. You can also video yourself at multiple angles and post them for feedback.
I agree with the comments on technique and finding a local masters team. Another route would be clinics or private coaching; I highly recommend Total Immersion (www.totalimmersion.net) for either of these. Full disclosure: I have zero financial interest in TI, but have been instructed by their coaches in the past (and will do so again in 2013).
