As an open water swimmer at heart, I got fed up with pool swimming about a month ago, and switched to almost entirely to cross country skiing 2-3 times/wk, about an hour per ski. I jumped back in the pool this week, and felt like I hadn't missed a beat; perhaps even a little stronger. I haven't had this experience with any other activity; certainly not running or biking. Now what to do about mud season - no snow and icy lakes. Hm.
Hopper
www.swimvacation.com
Former Member
Hopper
I was told that I need to cross train inorder to swim faster, have greater endurance. My knees are shot,..bone on bone in one, and my knee caps are out of place and worn part way thru. I cannot do flip turns in the pool, and I can`t do the breaststroke. The reason I started swimming 6 years ago was at my doctors advice...too impact, great cardio,..etc.
I was told that maybe a stationary bike is the ticket. Tonite at the Gym, I`m going to give it a try.
Former Member
I really hope this thread gets some responses. How many of you guys use a jump-rope? I realize I need more cardio work and this seems like a way to get in a quick daily workout at my house. I hate running and anyway my wife is training for a marathon, WAY outta my leauge.
For you guys that may use a jump rope, what is your routine?
Don't mean to hijack the thread...
Former Member
There is nothing better to build cardio then swimming open water. I have said before swim 10 minutes at a good pace. I would do a 24 minute mile pace at 54 strokes a minute. After the 10 min at 54 stroke I used to pick the pace up to 76 strokes a minute for 5 minutes then drop back to 54 strokes a minute and repeat this sequence for one, two or 3 hours.
Zippy81 I did all of my land work when I was younger after I became a marathon swimmer it was all 50s , 75s and 100s in the pool. When in open water it was 1hr, 2hr and 3 hr swims
Jim, you are absolutely right. I actually started on a fitness routine with the elliptical a couple of years before I returned to swimming. It made me much healthier and happier.
Ellipitical can be good, but my experience has been that it is no substitute for swimming. ON the occasions where I stopped swimming and used elliptical instead for a couple of weeks, I am ill prepared for swimming when I get back in the pool.
Former Member
If you have access to one, I've always thought an elliptical was good for cross training. After all, you are using both arms and legs, as opposed to walking/running/biking/stepping/etc. which all use only the legs.
JIM
Former Member
I agree completely. It's no substitute. As far as other exercise, I'm not sure there is a proper substitute. I guess it depends on how you define cross training. I'd love to do it, but I can't swim every day. My shoulder starts to ache and overall I feel more tired and burned out. So every other day, I do some other kind of aerobic exercise, and usually some weight training. For the weight training, I try to work swimming muscles. For the aerobic, I try to do something that complements my swimming, like elliptical/running/biking/etc. In this way, I hope to be overall fitter and healthier. (Though of course swimming is still my main focus). :2cents:
JIM
Ellipitical can be good, but my experience has been that it is no substitute for swimming. ON the occasions where I stopped swimming and used elliptical instead for a couple of weeks, I am ill prepared for swimming when I get back in the pool.
Former Member
There is nothing better to build cardio then swimming open water. I have said before swim 10 minutes at a good pace. I would do a 24 minute mile pace at 54 strokes a minute. After the 10 min at 54 stroke I used to pick the pace up to 76 strokes a minute for 5 minutes then drop back to 54 strokes a minute and repeat this sequence for one, two or 3 hours.
Geochuck, how does one begin getting such selfawareness of strokes/minute?
Former Member
I would have a friend or what I called a trainer who would accompany me in a canoe or kyack. I used to pay my trainer 10% of my prize money. After doing this for several swims you could do it without any one counting. If with aboat they gave hand signals - point up to pick up the pace, palm down to slow down and the OKAY signal if you were on pace.
If on shore he had a steel axle from a car, it of coarse being steel he would put it in the water and hit it with a small crowbar, 2 times if I was stroking too slow, once if on pace, 3 times if too fast. The sound travelled very well underwater.
There is nothing better to build cardio then I have said before swim 10 minutes at a good pace. I would do a 24 minute mile pace at 54 strokes a minute. After the 10 min at 54 stroke I used to pick the pace up to 76 strokes a minute for 5 minutes then drop back to 54 strokes a minute and repeat this sequence for one, two or 3 hours.
Geochuck, how does one begin getting such selfawareness of strokes/minute?
Former Member
I imagine there's some psychological assistance one gets from doing something different for awhile, especially when confronted with another 4 months until open water season........
Hopper
www.swimvacation.com
