I started swimming 2 years ago as part of doing triathlon (please, no one beat me up). Up to this point while I've taken swimming somewhat serious I've certainly let biking and running be my focus while just trying to be an "okay" swimmer. Currently, I swim 10@100 at around 1:25 ish (I don't leave at 1:25 by my actual swim time is 1:25 per 100) with a god-awful flip turn. My volume starting this season is roughly 8 - 10k/week.
I really want to start putting more emphasis on swimming and becoming a better swimmer. I enjoy swimming and think there is a lot ahead of me. I met with a good swimmer and he is starting to point me in the right direction. The first thing we are doing is just upping my volume. I'm going to start putting in 12 - 15k each week.
My question for the good swimmers is: are there volume levels where you noticed improvement in your swimming. I mean, for example, when you starting putting in X yards per week consistently you noticed an improvement in swimming. I know this is probably different for everyone but I just wanted to get a general feel...
I know I can translate this into running - when I hit 50 miles a week I can feel the difference in my running. And from there it is usually in 10's for me. 60 miles a week and 70 miles a week.
Thanks.
I don't think just swimming more each week will help you be a better swimmer.
you have to swim better to be a better swimmer.
I swim 4x/week.
once a week is a 1 hr sprint workout about 2000-2500m
the other three times can be anything from 3500-5000m
my 3km open water times have dropped from 45:15 to 36:30 in 2 yrs (3 annual races). the biggest drop was between 2007 and 2008 över 7min. this year I am hoping to get down under 36:00
Agree that swimming with better technique will trump distance. Get that good swimmer to give you some stroke pointers, or better yet, find a team with a real coach.
More is better to a point.
Swim Faster Faster can help you
Especially
Tip 265 Train harder, smarter, faster, further, more often, with a coach, with a team, in a convenient facility & at a convenient Time
Tip 165 Build a Better Boat can help you too
I train in Austin TX with Longhorn Masters. Some of Austin's best pro triathletes train with us.
Desiree Ficker, Michael Lovato, Ritchie Cunningham, Amanda Lovato, Brandon Marsh, Amy Marsh, and Patrick Evoe to name a few.
They don't train with us every day but they are quite regular.
We tend to do 4,500 to 5,500 per practice.
Your biggest improvements will come from improving your technique and increasing your volume and frequency.
Just showing up regularly and training hard should help you improve.
Ande
Always think of it in time, that takes the skill out of it and measures effort only. To get serious about swimming and have good breathroughs, you need to train 4-5 times a week and each training session should be 60 min minimum, 90 min preffered. To maintain, you may be able to get away with three times a week, maybe. To improve look to add training time. Triathletes can probably cut way back on the swimming in the competative season, but I bet they pack on the yardage off season.
I noticed big improvement when I was able to cope with and work through shoulder issues as a new swimmer and get to the point where I could train 5-6 days a week.
Agree that swimming with better technique will trump distance. Get that good swimmer to give you some stroke pointers, or better yet, find a team with a real coach.
He is a coach. Yes, stroke advice is part of what we are doing.
Did you swim competatively when you were younger? If not, it's going to take alot of time, and requires in depth form developement. I've been swimming for about 20 months myself, and although there's much room for improvement and they seem very slow at times, they are consistant nonetheless.
One thing that holds truth however is something Ande stated, I cant remember the exact words but it's something like this, "Anything you measure and work hard on makes you swim faster". Whenever I apply this theory I get results!
I can share my experience being a newbie to triathlon last year. I swam competitively when i was young and most of my training in the early parts of last year were swimming. I figured out more of what to do in June, July and August, in order to reach my goals in triathlon.
Unfortunately, I didn't start tracking my workouts until last July, but here's the data for those months:
July 46k
August 36k
Sep 36k
I found that later in the season it was more beneficial for me to concentrate on biking and running. My volume of swimming went down in August as my cycling mileage went up. But my swim splits remained solid.
From my limited experience, I found that getting into good swim shape early then switching my focus and maintaining the swim worked well for me in the latter stages of the year.
I think it really depends on your goals and the timing of your races. Personally, I'm going to swim as much yardage as possible now, i really feel that swimming helps me get into shape. While long bike rides help me get good overall endurance.
Running is for the birds.
