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.
Former Member
What you need to do is the intervals that you can do. If you get behind at least break 10 seconds or so, don't swim straight thru them. I feel that having adults swim thru intervals when they can't make them is not that productive, since it could cause injuries or charlie horses.
Speaking of cramps... I'm digressing...
If I do a lot of fast walking, or some running, I get a lot of leg cramps (when I swim the next day), and my lower back gets into a spasam sometimes, and then I can'f finish my swimming workout.
There's gotta be something other than dehydration going on, cause I drink about a gallon of water every day. I take vitamins and mineral supplements, and drink some of that emergen-C as well. And, I get plenty of sodium too.
I think I have a tendency to not get enough potassium.
I forget what else is there that I need to pay attention to.
Originally posted by mattson
Stretching? (You seem to have everything else covered.)
ooouch, yea... stretching...
Especially stretching my hams, I have short hamstrings.
Ugh, thanks for the reminder. A good one!
You have a good point there :p
;)
Moaning and groaning allowed .... as long as I actually do stretch, right? :D
Originally posted by Conniekat8
ooouch, yea... stretching...
My coaches in high school really emphasized stretching. Before and after dryland, change to swim suits, then stretching before and after swim practice. Besides range of motion (which will help for technique), the less energy you spend moving tight muscles is more energy you have for powering down the pool.
For cardio, how about a stationary bike (easier on the joints than running)? Also, any circuit training (weights or dryland movements) can be made "cardio" if you reduce the rest between sets, and keep the heart rate up.
(All of this advice is stuff that worked for me in the past, and would work for me now, if I would just move away from the reclining chair in front of the TV. :D )
Originally posted by mattson
Also, any circuit training (weights or dryland movements)
Oh, yera, I keep forgetting aboutthat one. I used to do circuit training years ago.
I'll probably need some assistance putting a good routine together. I jsutmightknow who can help me with that.
As for stretching... I steretch... just not enough, IMO.
I do most of the stretching during the warmup. Couple laps... stretch... couple laps, stretch...
But probably about 20% of the times, I forget to stretch at all.
I'll have to make more of a mental effort to remember it and make myself do it.
I'm with you Connie - stretch during the warm up. Unfortunately I don't get enough stretching in either - here's why...
Warm-up
100 free
adjust goggles
stretch
100 free
adjust darn goggles again
stretch
100 free
cuss at goggles
adjust bleeping goggles again
100 free
stretch
swim my workout ignoring the water in my goggles!
:D
Well, you are a cat. I have a basset hound. And those dogs have too heavy bones to swim. They are short legged and have huge bodies, like some breaststrokers.
Sometimes I wish I had shorter legs.
Try getting pants in size 4, with a 34" or a tad longer inseam.
They look at you like a freak, then they tell you where you can special order them.
or, here's a gem, when i really slim down, I need size 2-4 in jeans, and size 8-10 to make it across my shoulders, and this is when i wasn't swimming. Can't wait to see what it'll be now. :p
Originally posted by Scansy
adjust goggles
adjust darn goggles again
cuss at goggles
adjust bleeping goggles again
swim my workout ignoring the water in my goggles!
:D
Well, your goggles should be well stretched by now ;)
I went through about 10 different models of goggles till I find two that fit without leaking.
I hate water in my eyes when I don't expect it. Which is kind of odd, cause I dove and snorkled in the mediterranean many many times without any kind of goggles.
Yea, when I have an option to be comfortable, I take it. Us cats are like that. Got the comfort and frolicking down to science.
After a good hunt, that is. ;)
Now, to really be a cat... I should ... STRETCH... :D
