Creating stamina or endurance

I have reviewed the responses to this subject in the community and my question comes from a new swimming wanting to know what I need to do to improve my stamina/endurance.  I have been swimming about 3 years and I am up to a mile four times a week.  I would like any suggestion or confirmation that I just need keep working on my technique and my hours of swimming will help me improve my stamina/endurance.  Thank you.

Parents
  • It really depends on what your "goal" is - for example - do you want to swim faster or simply train endurance sport for health ? If its purely for endurance / health - I would highly recommend one fast swim session per week - VO2max is not a "story" or myth being sold - it is vital for longevity and the main way to train is build a base during long easy days AND do a max session every 7-10 days. 

    If you want to swim "faster" you need help at some point - if you look at triathlon folks, swimming is the sport that in many ways is less important because the distance is really short compared - BUT very difficult for new folks to actually get faster. Amazing athletes often struggle because they can't "catch" the water. Think of it as cycling gears - if you don't know how to catch you are cycling at a very inefficient gear and wasting loads of energy - the 2 very best "self-drills" in my view -- scull to swim... just scull laying flat in water for 10 seconds then rest 10 and then swim a super clean 25.  2nd - and best - distance per stroke and time. Start with 25s - build to 50s -- count number of strokes and time swimming normal at decent pace 25s -- then try to swim same time with 1 stroke less - 2 strokes less - make your body feel the water .... it feels GREAT when you catch it...

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  • It really depends on what your "goal" is - for example - do you want to swim faster or simply train endurance sport for health ? If its purely for endurance / health - I would highly recommend one fast swim session per week - VO2max is not a "story" or myth being sold - it is vital for longevity and the main way to train is build a base during long easy days AND do a max session every 7-10 days. 

    If you want to swim "faster" you need help at some point - if you look at triathlon folks, swimming is the sport that in many ways is less important because the distance is really short compared - BUT very difficult for new folks to actually get faster. Amazing athletes often struggle because they can't "catch" the water. Think of it as cycling gears - if you don't know how to catch you are cycling at a very inefficient gear and wasting loads of energy - the 2 very best "self-drills" in my view -- scull to swim... just scull laying flat in water for 10 seconds then rest 10 and then swim a super clean 25.  2nd - and best - distance per stroke and time. Start with 25s - build to 50s -- count number of strokes and time swimming normal at decent pace 25s -- then try to swim same time with 1 stroke less - 2 strokes less - make your body feel the water .... it feels GREAT when you catch it...

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