hey there! I used to compete when I was younger but I have gained weight since then and would love to use swimming to slim down. Swimming is my cardio of choice. My goal is to participate in a Swim a Thon in April 2005. I haven't been on a team or trained lately (since I was 11)....so I am not familiar on how to do intervals with the clock and all that stuff. Anyway...can you guys help me out? Thanks.
Parents
Former Member
Seems to me the first place to start is with a sport watch with a stop watch function and split times function. I got one for about 15 bucks at Walgreens.
Then use the watch to see how long it takes you to swim at an easy or moderate pace 50 yards, 100 yards, 200 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards, etc. in different strokes.
Then check out the workouts posted on this site and modify the intervals and sets to match your level of fitness. Start out without putting a lot of emphasis on the split times and distance but just get a basic understanding of how you swim a set and how much rest you need during a set and between sets to make the workout.
If you know your fitness level now, great but making sure you don't overdo it at first is important not only for injury and health reasons but also for motivation reasons.
Just a thought. Good luck.
Seems to me the first place to start is with a sport watch with a stop watch function and split times function. I got one for about 15 bucks at Walgreens.
Then use the watch to see how long it takes you to swim at an easy or moderate pace 50 yards, 100 yards, 200 yards, 400 yards, 500 yards, etc. in different strokes.
Then check out the workouts posted on this site and modify the intervals and sets to match your level of fitness. Start out without putting a lot of emphasis on the split times and distance but just get a basic understanding of how you swim a set and how much rest you need during a set and between sets to make the workout.
If you know your fitness level now, great but making sure you don't overdo it at first is important not only for injury and health reasons but also for motivation reasons.
Just a thought. Good luck.
