Hi everyone,
I've been training for this summers open water season in the pool which thanks to the advice on here has been going real well. I do however have one concern and that is that I'm not fast enough!
As of now I swim 6000 yard workouts taking small breaks in between. It takes me just under 3 hours to complete this. In a lane next to me I see this swimmer just flying allong even lapping me. I've always considered myself a pretty strong lap swimmer and not to sound conceited but am really not used to that. In the locker room his bag did have a US Masters logo on it.
Obviously this guy was not swimming 6000 yards and is doing a totally different workout than I. But he was fast! I know a huge challenge is jsut covering the distance. But just curious do you guys/girls worry about your speed? And like how many hours should it take to do around 6000 yards?
all the best everyone
uvmflier
Parents
Former Member
If you never got to the pool 6000 yds would take forever, so give yourself credit for a great start. However to get speed you must train speed which means longer rest interval sets. I use long swims for 2 reasons. It helps me develop the necessary focus required in longer races and gives me lots of time to work on my form. There are people on this forum that know a lot more than me about training, all I can offer is my thoughts.
If you working toward the open water season then feel free to continue the long swims if you'd like. Just remember to pay attention to your stroke and not the person next to you. No junk yards allowed. They may be training to race 50's and 100's. However it wouldn't hurt to add some shorter sets to your workout even now. You could start including them every other workout. However once you feel you can swim 6000 comfortably and focused for the entire swim it's time to move toward 6 X 1000, 12 X 500 and 30 X 200 and ultimately 60 X 100. You can drop your workout distance to 4K or 5K as your intensity increases unless you plan on swimming a number of 10K or longer races.
I am just now returning to the water after a 3 month layoff. To start building a base, work on my stroke and increase my flexibility I am doing 5 X 500, 5 X 200, 5 X 100, 5 X50. In the past I have also used continuous 4K or 5K swims. I am trying to swim 4X a week. The most important determining factor for me in choosing a workout is never swim a set where I can't hold proper form for the entire time. If I am having problems then I just shorten the distance in each set or increase the rest. Under my plan I am trying to slowly increase my intensity in the month of January and add some harder interval sets in February. However, even in the middle of the season I will race a 5K in the pool from time to time to try and create the same stresses on my body that I will experience on race day.
Again this is just a program that has worked for me.
Reply
Former Member
If you never got to the pool 6000 yds would take forever, so give yourself credit for a great start. However to get speed you must train speed which means longer rest interval sets. I use long swims for 2 reasons. It helps me develop the necessary focus required in longer races and gives me lots of time to work on my form. There are people on this forum that know a lot more than me about training, all I can offer is my thoughts.
If you working toward the open water season then feel free to continue the long swims if you'd like. Just remember to pay attention to your stroke and not the person next to you. No junk yards allowed. They may be training to race 50's and 100's. However it wouldn't hurt to add some shorter sets to your workout even now. You could start including them every other workout. However once you feel you can swim 6000 comfortably and focused for the entire swim it's time to move toward 6 X 1000, 12 X 500 and 30 X 200 and ultimately 60 X 100. You can drop your workout distance to 4K or 5K as your intensity increases unless you plan on swimming a number of 10K or longer races.
I am just now returning to the water after a 3 month layoff. To start building a base, work on my stroke and increase my flexibility I am doing 5 X 500, 5 X 200, 5 X 100, 5 X50. In the past I have also used continuous 4K or 5K swims. I am trying to swim 4X a week. The most important determining factor for me in choosing a workout is never swim a set where I can't hold proper form for the entire time. If I am having problems then I just shorten the distance in each set or increase the rest. Under my plan I am trying to slowly increase my intensity in the month of January and add some harder interval sets in February. However, even in the middle of the season I will race a 5K in the pool from time to time to try and create the same stresses on my body that I will experience on race day.
Again this is just a program that has worked for me.
