How many times per week do you swim?

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

bzaks1424 — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:14:13 GMT

My coach is trying to set up an extra practice which means 4/week! You have no idea how excited I am for this!

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:53:11 GMT

3x per swims week for me. I do betweeen 2.5 and 2.8km per session. I'd like to add in another session, However I do a fair amount of dryland work also (3-5 boxing sessions, 1x yoga, 1 weights and 1x abs/core per week).

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

swimshark — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:13:55 GMT

3 times a week during the summer because they are 2.25 hours a day. During school year it's 4 times - 90 min on 3 week days and 2.5 hours on Saturdays. I balance the weeks off with weights.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

mjtyson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:05:38 GMT

Answered 3-4 even though I'm more a 4-5 times guy. Four is pretty standard, with 5 days happening more and more often.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:22:12 GMT

6 times per week for me :) I wonder if that is too much swimming, though my body seems to be handling it OK. I am not suffering from terrible fatigue or soreness after each 30 minutes workout. A trainer once told me to only exercise every other day, leaving room for muscles to recuperate and grow. Swimming is the most relaxing form of exercise for me, and I am trying hard not to overindulge it.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:38:00 GMT

A year ago I was doing 1 day a week, early in the year I was doing 2 days a week, and the last few months I have been averaging 3-3.5 days / week. As I improve my form I hope I can swim more days/week without pain/injuries (there have been mild neck and shoulder injuries in the past). I remember reading a study that said that the body really needs at least 3 days a week in order to improve in swimming. I'm not sure what study it was, but it sounds a little fishy to me. Is anyone familiar with this study or have any thoughts on it? I would imagine muscle atrophy wouldn't occur in that short of a time period.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

KEWebb18 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:55:38 GMT

I remember reading a study that said that the body really needs at least 3 days a week in order to improve in swimming. I'm not sure what study it was, but it sounds a little fishy to me. Is anyone familiar with this study or have any thoughts on it? I would imagine muscle atrophy wouldn't occur in that short of a time period. I think that the study was done in the 80s (someone who is more familiar with the literature can chime in). If I can remember correctly, 3 times a week will maintain the gains from training, while a greater frequency will only help enhance and less frequency will not improve performance. There is more to it than just the number of days you do something, you have to take into account the intensity as well.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

joel schmaltz — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:31:36 GMT

I try really hard to swim 5 times a week . However, this summer I have been lucky to make it 4 times a week. When school starts bak up for my children and our lives have even more "structure" I will get back into my regular routine.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:51:47 GMT

7 days/week for 2-3 hours a day. Might change this to 3 days a week, 2 lifting days, and 1 off day however.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:17:29 GMT

Does swimming 7 days a week provide extra health/fitness benefits as compared to 5-6 days? Any opinions on this?

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:40:45 GMT

Does swimming 7 days a week provide extra health/fitness benefits as compared to 5-6 days? Any opinions on this? I doubt it. I think it's more of an addiction. I imagine that for building optimal fitness, a couple of rest days are probably the best set-up. But when you are hooked on that great post-workout feeling, you don't want to go a day without it if you don't have to. Even though I don't swim every day, I probably would if I could. And those around me would praise me for my strength of willpower, never suspecting that I am just a chlorine junky.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:14:30 GMT

:bliss:Since there is no organized team in my town and morning team does not work for me because of my work- I have to drive hour each way for 1.5hrs training 6 days a week. I know some of you will say "you are crazy!" and I will say yes iam - Why?- I became sooo addicted to swimming i do not mind the commute. It is great team we have swim clinics, we go the the meets. I just love it? think i'll add some weight training on Sundays... Robert

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:47:49 GMT

For the last month, I have been swimming four workouts a week. I hope to be able to continue that number.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:56:45 GMT

3 or 4. 5 when I'm really lucky. I'd love to get in 5 or 6 per week consistently, but it's just not possible for me at this stage in my life (5 kids!)

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

MAC swimmer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:33:57 GMT

4 days a week minimum. 5 is better. Anything more and my wife leaves the yellow pages open on the divorce lawyer section...

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:17:06 GMT

Ha ha. We must have different standards of what a hard core swimmer is. Taking 2 hours out of every single day just to travel to/from a pool is pretty hard core IMO. Good for you though! Keep it up. Thanks for your encouragement! :D I think of a "hard-core" swimmer as someone who swims intensively, as fast as possible, lap after lap non-stop for 2 hours, even if he/she swims only 4 times a week. :) My swims are too relaxed to be called hard-core :cool:

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:50:16 GMT

Yay! First post 4 me.. I swam 6 days a week...but I've reduced this to 5 days a week as in order to keep up with my quality run sessions(Training for a 1:30 half marathon time) and weight-training. Specializing in the fly(also plannign to do a open water long distance free swim in the summer so building mileage for that).

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:45:37 GMT

I try to go 5 times a week, but thats optimism on my part, 3-4 is a good week :agree:

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:02:18 GMT

I generally swim 5-6 times, but often enough 7 times, very occasionally 4 times. Not to mention the pool is 1 hour transportation away from where I live. Now I'm far from a hard core swimmer Ha ha. We must have different standards of what a hard core swimmer is. Taking 2 hours out of every single day just to travel to/from a pool is pretty hard core IMO. Good for you though! Keep it up.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:55:15 GMT

the only reason I don't swim 6 to 7 times a week... the pool is closed on Sundays and the next closest place to swim is 70 minutes away (not even sure that pool is open on Sundays). Of course I could go to the coast and swim open water, but, burrrrrr.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:09:53 GMT

(quick highjack here): Ooh, where are you going (if I may ...)? I noted the Scilles are new this year. Roger Deakin in Waterlog (breaststroking through the byways of GB) describes swimming both Scilly and the Hebrides, Jura region. The trips seem to be filling fast this year. I'm going to Malta, first week of May. It was going to be British Virgin Islands in April, but something else came up. Oddly, it's easier to find flights in and out of Malta (on the other side of the world) and takes less time to get there. Go figure.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:12:05 GMT

I had to make a choice in the poll - I almost always swim 5 times a week, sometimes 4, almost never ever 3. So I went with 3-4 because I never swim 6 days a week and that rules out 5-6. I plan to do a long course meters meet in late June, which will (I think) be my last meet until next fall, and after that I may back off on the 5 days a week thing to make room for a little running, biking, and such Hi Gigi, Where is the long course in June? Flipper

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:30:25 GMT

I'm surprised the number of people (who took the poll) who swim 3-4 times largely out number those swimming 5-6 times, and only 2 swims 7 times or more. I generally swim 5-6 times, but often enough 7 times, very occasionally 4 times. Not to mention the pool is 1 hour transportation away from where I live. Now I'm far from a hard core swimmer, so maybe I should cut down the frequency, just to be modest? :cool: (Am I swimming too much?:rolleyes:) :D

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Former Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:22:45 GMT

I always plan to swim 5 days a week, but can only get 3-4.....I bike & run on other days. Swimmer training Tri.

RE: How many times per week do you swim?

Rykno — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:27:56 GMT

3x 90 minutes (3500-5500m) during the summer OW months I swim 4x75 minutes (4-5km)