Hi all
Well, we have added a fourth day to when our pool is open during the week. I have been wanting to add yardage to my normal swims, from 1000 - 1250 yards (50 laps in my 25 yard pool) but am hesitating since I am, technically, adding an extra 1000 yards per week now.
Should I be concerned about this or would it be safe for me to go ahead and add my 250 extra yards on all 4 days?
Marian
Former Member
I have read that it's best to increase yardage by 10% per week. Probably the best thing to keep in mind is Dr. Sheehan's (Sheehand was a running guru) admonition to always "Listen to your body". So, increase your yardage, but if your body tells you to cut back, then do so! Good luck.
Tim makes a very good point about technique. Terry Laughlin makes a similar point when teaching butterfly, never practice BUTTERSTRUGGLE. Practicing to the point of fatigue brings out bad habits and training with those bad habits will reinforce them at best, cause an injury at worst. Pay attention to technique and if your fatigue begins to cramp your style, switch to kicking. The kicking will increase your aerobic efficiency while not teaching your body any bad habits. While typing this I realized that I need to listen to my own advice a little more often. :)
I don't swim to the point of fatigue; the only time I even started feeling tired recently was when I swam a mile. Right around lap 65, I was feeling tired. With 7 more to go, I swam through it.
I definitely listen to my body!
I agree with Jean: You should increase your distance gradually, listening to your body as you go.
So, short answer: I don't see why you shouldn't step up your distance!
I'd say test the waters and go for it. Maybe try doing a little extra yardage every other day. But I think if you do a nice steady pace and you've been ok with 1000 yds for a little but, that going to 1200-1250 shouldn't be too bad.
And as aforementioned, just make sure that your shoulders and body are doing ok.
My $0.02 from the "cheap seats":
Technique, technique, technique!
Try to be aware of your technique respective to good technique examples, and strive for making yours as good and efficient as possible (check other threads for technique discussions if you're in doubt). Without that focus, IMHO, adding any extra yardage can likely do more harm than good. It can reinforce "bad" habits and might lead to injury/strain.
At the amount of yardage and increase you're talking, it's likely not "threatening". But, at what point is it? You might as well work on being as efficient as possible now, with good technique, so you can reduce the risk of injury.
It MIGHT just increase your enjoyment of it, and perhaps open the door to greater "challenges"!
:)
