I've been swimming now for about 4 months after taking nearly 20 years' hiatus. Needless to say, I'm not really not trying for any speed records but I'm frustrated that I'm not getting any faster. Ironically enough, I'm usually the fastest swimmer in the pool, even compared to other 20 somethings. Then again, there really isn't much competition at my 24hr fitness.
I've been told by others that my form looks pretty good. I can swim 25m in about 15 easy strokes. But I can't seem to get my arms to move any faster in the water. If I try to increase my arm speed, I end up compromising my extension, using more energy and going about the same overall speed.
Since I've been focused on distance, I've been using a 2-beat kick. I'd like to employ a 6-beat kick, but somehow can't get the timing down. When I try for a 6-beat, I usually end up fluttering around like a wounded minnow.
I swim about 5 times a week, mixing up distance, speed drills and kick drills. I'm 33 years old, decent cardio, height 5'7".
So I'm open for opinions. Should I focus on increasing arm speed? Work on a 6-beat kick? Increase strength? All of the above?
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
anything you do and measure improves
so measure your speed and train to improve it.
I was in your shoes. These very words of Ande's helped me enormously. It's not that I never ever measured myself at all, but the timeclock at my 24 hr fitness was poorly placed, only visable to me from one lane, and at the "wrong" end of it, too. It was hard to do interval training, let alone clock myself. Anyhow, I got myself a swimming wrist watch, and I started timing all KINDS of things, almost everything. Splits during sets, especially the sets that I come back to regularly. Kicking. I started logging my times in my workout journal. When you watch the clock, your times go DOWN.
Also, do you use a pullbouy? I find that doing a pull set a couple times per week really helps my arms. Not every time--you need to give the arms time to recover.
If you only started 4 months ago, I bet you've come a lot further than you realize.
anything you do and measure improves
so measure your speed and train to improve it.
I was in your shoes. These very words of Ande's helped me enormously. It's not that I never ever measured myself at all, but the timeclock at my 24 hr fitness was poorly placed, only visable to me from one lane, and at the "wrong" end of it, too. It was hard to do interval training, let alone clock myself. Anyhow, I got myself a swimming wrist watch, and I started timing all KINDS of things, almost everything. Splits during sets, especially the sets that I come back to regularly. Kicking. I started logging my times in my workout journal. When you watch the clock, your times go DOWN.
Also, do you use a pullbouy? I find that doing a pull set a couple times per week really helps my arms. Not every time--you need to give the arms time to recover.
If you only started 4 months ago, I bet you've come a lot further than you realize.
