I started with the local masters about a month ago. We swim 3 mornings a week, generally doing around 3,000 meters. I was previously swimming on my own 4-5 days per week, doing more mileage but with less intensity. Swimming with the group has shown me that my conditioning, kick, and backstroke are weak.
Since starting with the group, I've been swimming on one or both of the off weekdays. I generally go pretty easy (usually no intervals) on the off days and do drills, work on kick, learning fly, etc. I swim for around an hour and probably go 2,500 or so, although I don't really keep track.
I'm 44, 190 pounds, in decent, but apparently not very well-conditioned swimming shape.
Any thoughts on off day workouts? Good idea? Bad idea? Injury waiting to happen? Garbage yardage? Do less mileage, more intervals? Shut up and swim?:)
Thanks for any and all thoughts.
Aww, c'mon, you mean I need to think about it?
Good questions. Initial goal was to lose the beer gut and some weight. That happened pretty quickly. Now I think I might want to race, although it's been 27 years since I did. First available race is November, SCM. I'd probably do *** and free events. Unless conditioning improves a whole bunch between now and registration, I'll probably go 200's or under. I haven't swum either stroke for time yet, but from what I can tell from swimming with the group those are my most competitive strokes.
I listed as goals for my masters coach to learn fly well enough to swim a 100, and to be able to complete comfortably a 200 IM, and ultimately a 400 IM. But aside from my issues with fly, my backstroke is weak enough to make my IM non-competitive.
I did do an open water fun swim this summer of around a mile, but because it was a fun swim the organizers didn't time anything and I didn't think to wear a watch. I think it went OK, but I'm not sure I'll do open water next season. For now, it's pools anyway, this being Oregon.
I hate weights and running (plodding, in my case), and my mountain bike is broken. But I usually like to do a little riding before ski season, and I probably should try and get over my aversion to the weight room.
Aww, c'mon, you mean I need to think about it?
Good questions. Initial goal was to lose the beer gut and some weight. That happened pretty quickly. Now I think I might want to race, although it's been 27 years since I did. First available race is November, SCM. I'd probably do *** and free events. Unless conditioning improves a whole bunch between now and registration, I'll probably go 200's or under. I haven't swum either stroke for time yet, but from what I can tell from swimming with the group those are my most competitive strokes.
I listed as goals for my masters coach to learn fly well enough to swim a 100, and to be able to complete comfortably a 200 IM, and ultimately a 400 IM. But aside from my issues with fly, my backstroke is weak enough to make my IM non-competitive.
I did do an open water fun swim this summer of around a mile, but because it was a fun swim the organizers didn't time anything and I didn't think to wear a watch. I think it went OK, but I'm not sure I'll do open water next season. For now, it's pools anyway, this being Oregon.
I hate weights and running (plodding, in my case), and my mountain bike is broken. But I usually like to do a little riding before ski season, and I probably should try and get over my aversion to the weight room.
