Help! Need advice and encouragement.

RE: Help! Need advice and encouragement.

Former Member — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:01:46 GMT

On Sunday, I went to the pool and during my workout I did a 100 as fast as I could. I came in at 1:32, 10 seconds slower than my all time best. Monday I didn't swim, opting for a 37 mile bike ride instead. Today, I warmed up with a 400 in 7:36. At my peak I could do the same in just under 7 minutes. So things are looking up. I think soon I'll start going when the coach is there.

RE: Help! Need advice and encouragement.

Former Member — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:28:05 GMT

It takes roughly 6 weeks to get back to where you were. If swimming caused your problem your technique is probably not good. Get help from a coach who is not going to be too aggressive. I have never been bored in a pool there are too many things to think about when swimming to get bored. Do lts of repeats at a speed you can handle. say 10 x 100, 5 x 200, 3 x 500.

RE: Help! Need advice and encouragement.

Former Member — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:50:31 GMT

I used to do 2, 3500m workouts a day and more. The more you swim the better you will be. I was not bored as I thought about technique and of course many other things while swimming. Where was my money coming from? where was it going? If you only think of counting laps I am sure that could become a bore. I never really counted laps it was always done by time. In a pool watching the pace clock. Time spent doing sprints not how many sprints. Trying to average a set time for the sprints, you can then find out how far you swim later.

RE: Help! Need advice and encouragement.

Former Member — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:29:13 GMT

The best way I found to avoid getting bored is to keep things mixed up, and change your routine. I found that I swim much harder and farther when doing a pre-designed workout. Check out the workout section for different workouts, my favorite are the interval based ones. As for boredom during longer pool swims, I usually count on my fingers, for lack of a better description, while letting my mind wander. Usually I'm able to remember where I left off once i reach the next wall. I also second getting a coach, or at least some feedback on your strokes. When I started swimming about 6 weeks ago, one of my shoulders was significantly weaker from a non-swimming related injury. He was able to look at my strokes and give me feedback on what i was doing wrong. Simply doing this has drastically reduced my shoulder pain. He has also given me advice on some of my goals and how to achieve them, like eventually doing an Alcatraz swim. As to your cycling question, I believe it did help. It has kept you in great shape, even though you are using different muscles. I think it will also help you get back to where you were faster, simply because you are not starting from a couch potato state.