Hi everyone-
I’m still pretty new to the forum and had a question specifically for someone new to open water swimming. Over the past few summers I’ve swam a lot of .5 to 1.0 mile open water pond swims. My main problem is breaking out of my routine and going longer distance like the 5k to 10k races.
I’ve been reading how some people train by jumping in and just doing non stop distance. It kind of appealed to me as I was reading about a swimmer who does a 1 mile pool swim (no breaks) 3 times a week.
Right now I’m sort of used to training on a pyramid 100,200,300, 400,500. However I’ve been thinking possibly the non stop mile swims may be better from the endurance standpoint?
Thanks again everyone. Let me know if your looking for a training partner in Massachusetts!
I don't swim or train in a wet suit, but then I haven't gone in water colder than 69 F for any prolonged period of time.
As to your original question, I have my :2cents::
I've done OWS of 3K, 1K, 3K, and 5K in that order over the last two seasons with the last three coming this past summer. I workout alone in a 25Y pool (only thing available on my schedule and budget), and over the last two years I moved myself from swimming workouts of 1800 - 2700 yards with nothing longer than 500 yards as a distance (using a lot of pyramids) to swimming workouts of 3600 - 5400 yards adding at least one long swim of at least 3K per week. All the above comments about 25Y pool swimming being very different are absolutely true, but for me, I find it necessary to do the long swims for mental training. About 3 weeks before the 5K I did three months ago, I swam one in the pool just to get over the mental barrier. While it's true that turns give the shoulders a break, I found myself more tired after the pool 5K than the lake 5K. I think the difference was 90% mental and 10% water temp (lake was much colder which I prefer for long swims).
I'm now thinking about what I might do to prepare for a 10K. I may have to change strategies.
Good luck. It's addictive.
I don't swim or train in a wet suit, but then I haven't gone in water colder than 69 F for any prolonged period of time.
As to your original question, I have my :2cents::
I've done OWS of 3K, 1K, 3K, and 5K in that order over the last two seasons with the last three coming this past summer. I workout alone in a 25Y pool (only thing available on my schedule and budget), and over the last two years I moved myself from swimming workouts of 1800 - 2700 yards with nothing longer than 500 yards as a distance (using a lot of pyramids) to swimming workouts of 3600 - 5400 yards adding at least one long swim of at least 3K per week. All the above comments about 25Y pool swimming being very different are absolutely true, but for me, I find it necessary to do the long swims for mental training. About 3 weeks before the 5K I did three months ago, I swam one in the pool just to get over the mental barrier. While it's true that turns give the shoulders a break, I found myself more tired after the pool 5K than the lake 5K. I think the difference was 90% mental and 10% water temp (lake was much colder which I prefer for long swims).
I'm now thinking about what I might do to prepare for a 10K. I may have to change strategies.
Good luck. It's addictive.
