I started swimming in mid-July. I took 5 lessons (which helped a great deal) and have been to the pool about 3 times per week since I started. Basically patterning my workout after the general advice my teacher gave me, I currently start by doing 4 lenghts (in a 25 yard pool) of freestyle, 2-4 lengths of kicking and then I pull for 6 laps (because its fun). Then I do 5 50s with a minute between each and then I do either 3 50s or 2 75s of backstroke then I go back to working on stroke by swimming another 10 laps or so of freestyle and/or pulling.
When I first started, my 45 minute workout would yield about 16 laps with all of the breaks I required. Now I do about 40, but I appear to be stuck there because I just can't get myself to do anything greater than 50 yards at a time - I did a 100 of pulling the other day - seems that if I'm not using my feet, its a lot easier to get back and forth. When I do my 50s, I feel like I'm going to pass out by the time I'm reaching the end. Perhaps I should just push on and turn them into 75s - but does anyone have any advice as to how I can build a little more endurance? Is it just a matter of pushing myself a bit harder to stretch out those 50s into 75s and then 100s or is there a building block approach with a different workout setup I should try? My goal is general fitness and weight control (can't run because of bad knees and I finally started swimming as an alternative) I swim 3 days per week and lift weights pretty heavily 3 days per week. Thanks.
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Thanks for the input. I had considered buying the Total Immersion book and just hadn't done it yet. We have a Master's swim team at my health club (Health Track in Glen Ellyn, IL), but I do everything I can to avoid being there when they are - the intensity of their workouts is insane! I think I'm just going to force myself to do longer stretches and see if I make that third length. And if so, I'll go for 4. From my very first lesson, my teacher told me to get my hips up (even with the pull buoy) and so I'm sure I still struggle with this - and perhaps that is why I feel a heck of a lot more powerful with the buoy. When I push off now from the edge, I make it a point to float for a second or two, then start to kick for a second or two (all to get the feeling of some balance) and then I start stroking. Thanks again for the input.
Thanks for the input. I had considered buying the Total Immersion book and just hadn't done it yet. We have a Master's swim team at my health club (Health Track in Glen Ellyn, IL), but I do everything I can to avoid being there when they are - the intensity of their workouts is insane! I think I'm just going to force myself to do longer stretches and see if I make that third length. And if so, I'll go for 4. From my very first lesson, my teacher told me to get my hips up (even with the pull buoy) and so I'm sure I still struggle with this - and perhaps that is why I feel a heck of a lot more powerful with the buoy. When I push off now from the edge, I make it a point to float for a second or two, then start to kick for a second or two (all to get the feeling of some balance) and then I start stroking. Thanks again for the input.
