work outs for a non-racer

Former Member
Former Member
I am 45 years old and swim 2 to 3 times per week. I swim for aeobic benefits and general fitness. I do not race and don't feel a need to improve my speed. I only have 30 minutes in the pool for each workout session. Does anyone have ideas on good workouts that are challenging but do not go overboard? Thanks.
Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I got hooked on improving because when I started I was so bad ... could do a couple laps and then huff and puff while these old folks, (like really old, I'm only 41) would chop on by and keep on going for an hour. In an effort to keep up with them I had to improve my stroke. I'm extremely lazy so I work very, very hard to get a smoother more efficient stroke. :rolleyes: Vanity, is big, I want to look decent, and to keep up with the rest of the geriatric pool. Once the technique improvements started to show some real progress and deliver results ... I remember vividly the day I made it 800 yds ... I was hooked. Maybe that is Phil's "people who have good technique because they enjoy swimming". I really do enjoy it and I enjoy doing it better than last month. (My learning curve hasn't flattened out too much yet.) The better I swim the better it feels to swim. I also like the stroke count game ... can I get my 14 spl down to 13? Or my abyssmal backstroke under 18? I'm hoping so. The variety of different strokes is nice ... and different sets like drills and kicking. The injury prevention thing is also a big factor. I suffered a pretty sore shoulder in the beginning. The better my stroke got (thanks Emmett for all the tips here and on your site) ... the pain diminished. There is also an appeal of using more body in the workout ... core muscles and the like. It's nice to give them some exercise, too. So, I think I just added my personal ramble to totally agree with Emmett's post. I do see these other swimmers at the pool ... doing the exact same thing they were doing 18 months ago. A very boisterous 20-24 spl, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, a metronome ... all freestyle. I can set my pace by them every time. They go about 2000 yds in an hour. I think that is who you had in mind, Phil ... and I just have a lot more fun finding something new to learn while getting my exercise.
Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I got hooked on improving because when I started I was so bad ... could do a couple laps and then huff and puff while these old folks, (like really old, I'm only 41) would chop on by and keep on going for an hour. In an effort to keep up with them I had to improve my stroke. I'm extremely lazy so I work very, very hard to get a smoother more efficient stroke. :rolleyes: Vanity, is big, I want to look decent, and to keep up with the rest of the geriatric pool. Once the technique improvements started to show some real progress and deliver results ... I remember vividly the day I made it 800 yds ... I was hooked. Maybe that is Phil's "people who have good technique because they enjoy swimming". I really do enjoy it and I enjoy doing it better than last month. (My learning curve hasn't flattened out too much yet.) The better I swim the better it feels to swim. I also like the stroke count game ... can I get my 14 spl down to 13? Or my abyssmal backstroke under 18? I'm hoping so. The variety of different strokes is nice ... and different sets like drills and kicking. The injury prevention thing is also a big factor. I suffered a pretty sore shoulder in the beginning. The better my stroke got (thanks Emmett for all the tips here and on your site) ... the pain diminished. There is also an appeal of using more body in the workout ... core muscles and the like. It's nice to give them some exercise, too. So, I think I just added my personal ramble to totally agree with Emmett's post. I do see these other swimmers at the pool ... doing the exact same thing they were doing 18 months ago. A very boisterous 20-24 spl, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, a metronome ... all freestyle. I can set my pace by them every time. They go about 2000 yds in an hour. I think that is who you had in mind, Phil ... and I just have a lot more fun finding something new to learn while getting my exercise.
Children
No Data