I need to speed up building up my cardio, and I need to decide how to best go by doing it.
Don't really want to drastically increase my swimming, since I alerady do 2400-3000 Y or M a day (depending on waht pool we end up in SCY or LCM), and about couple times a week or so twice a day. This is all my shoulders and upper body are willing to handle without getting strained to a point where it starts feeling like a serious muscle irritation ratherthan just DOMS. Still need time to build up the strength there. I'm relatively pleased with how my strength is comingalong. My cardio really frustrates me. :rolleyes:
I'm a klutz when it comes to running and don't really want to add strain to the joints etc. that running will do. Wanna save my legs for swimming. Really don't want to do stuff that will increase risk of injury that will take me away from swimming training.
Now that my friend filled my head with the idea that I might have a chance to qualify for FINA master's games in Italy, which I was planning to go to and just watch my friend swim. I'm not really sure how realistic that idea is. Maybe 50/50. I dunno.
I'm kind of unsure as to what would be a good choice to give my cardio more of a push, something I can do as a second workout of the day. Do I get back in the pool in the afternoons, and do some intense kicking sets with longer fins (this actually sounds like something I'd be pretty eager to do)? Something dryland?
Well, this is about as far as I had thought this through (not a lot just yet). So many options - I'm not sure which way to turn. Any input, ideas, suggestions you guys might have that can help me think this through would be welcome.
Or... maybe I just more patience. I'm not sure if I'm pushing it too hard or not hard enough. It must be one of "those" days today.
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Update...
So I went rollerblading today. Haven't done that in last 3-4 months. Went for some 12 miles. It was okay.
When I skated a lot (I speed skated for couple of years, with rollerblades) I used do two round trips of 14 miles. 45 minutes a piece. One in the morning, another in the afternoon.
With rollerblading I have something to compare to, as far as the conditioning and strength etc. I still have a long way to go. I'm at about 1/4 or 1/5 (just guesstimating) of what I remember my best shape to be. It's better than 1/10th or less... where it was when I started 5 1/2 months ago.
Here's what bugs me though... After rollerblading for couple of hours, I went back to the pool for a Butterfly clinic. About 1/2 though, I started getting leg cramps. Ugh! Not only that they hurt, but I can't do the drills etc. with cramps like that, and it seems like a waste of a workout (or a part of it).
Similar thing happened when I tried some running. Leg cramps for a week, and it sets me back with swimming.
Yea, I stretched, and warmed up with rollerblading... Drank about 2 liters of water while I was at it, one liter before it, and another once I got to the pool.
Most likely, I'm trying to do too much too soon. Last time around, it took me a year to year and a half to get in a really good shape, maybe even up to 2 years. It's only been 5 months so far... Someone keep reminding me of that, will ya!
Update...
So I went rollerblading today. Haven't done that in last 3-4 months. Went for some 12 miles. It was okay.
When I skated a lot (I speed skated for couple of years, with rollerblades) I used do two round trips of 14 miles. 45 minutes a piece. One in the morning, another in the afternoon.
With rollerblading I have something to compare to, as far as the conditioning and strength etc. I still have a long way to go. I'm at about 1/4 or 1/5 (just guesstimating) of what I remember my best shape to be. It's better than 1/10th or less... where it was when I started 5 1/2 months ago.
Here's what bugs me though... After rollerblading for couple of hours, I went back to the pool for a Butterfly clinic. About 1/2 though, I started getting leg cramps. Ugh! Not only that they hurt, but I can't do the drills etc. with cramps like that, and it seems like a waste of a workout (or a part of it).
Similar thing happened when I tried some running. Leg cramps for a week, and it sets me back with swimming.
Yea, I stretched, and warmed up with rollerblading... Drank about 2 liters of water while I was at it, one liter before it, and another once I got to the pool.
Most likely, I'm trying to do too much too soon. Last time around, it took me a year to year and a half to get in a really good shape, maybe even up to 2 years. It's only been 5 months so far... Someone keep reminding me of that, will ya!
