After reading some of the other postings I see I am out of my league here. I have never been a competitive swimmer, though swimming has been a lifetime pleasure. I am a runner. Not elite, but I enjoy 10ks and half marathons. I started lap swimming again 2 weeks ago for cross training purposes. It feels great. I know that in running, a rule of thumb is to not increase your distance by more than 10% per week. Is there something like that in swimming? I swam 1,000 yards (meters?) today in 35 minutes - a piker to all of you, I know - but if I am swimming 2x per week, does anyone have any general tips for me as I build up to an hour of swimming each time and to build my speed up some? Laura
Originally posted by Laurap
I appreciate what you all have written. I've sent an email to the contact person for the Glenwood Springs (Colorado) masters swimming group to see what they are all about and how I might fit in with what they do. I am not approaching this as if I want to swim competitively, and so not sure if I am someone they want in the group...? Would like some stroke clinics or something, though. How in the world do you all remember 100x2 of this and 600x3 of that and on and on as I've seen in the workout postings? Thanks again - Laura
When doing multiples of something, I use my water bottle and move it across the tiles on the pool to keep track. Using the clock helps too, but by the end of something hard I am brain dead and can hardly remember where I started, so the water bottle helps.
You are not out of your league here. I started swimming 5 years ago at age 38 and could only do about 50 yards at a time. To increment, I suggest adding 100-200 yards each week to your work-outs. That is a doable and not painful to think about amount. I do that in the winter starting in December with 2500 yards and am able to get up to get up to close to 4000 yards by February.
Originally posted by Laurap
I appreciate what you all have written. I've sent an email to the contact person for the Glenwood Springs (Colorado) masters swimming group to see what they are all about and how I might fit in with what they do. I am not approaching this as if I want to swim competitively, and so not sure if I am someone they want in the group...? Would like some stroke clinics or something, though. How in the world do you all remember 100x2 of this and 600x3 of that and on and on as I've seen in the workout postings? Thanks again - Laura
When doing multiples of something, I use my water bottle and move it across the tiles on the pool to keep track. Using the clock helps too, but by the end of something hard I am brain dead and can hardly remember where I started, so the water bottle helps.
You are not out of your league here. I started swimming 5 years ago at age 38 and could only do about 50 yards at a time. To increment, I suggest adding 100-200 yards each week to your work-outs. That is a doable and not painful to think about amount. I do that in the winter starting in December with 2500 yards and am able to get up to get up to close to 4000 yards by February.
