I am 35 and in pretty decent shape. I ride 4-5000 miles a year and do endurance events (100 mile mt. bike races). Unfortunately, my Dr. just told me no more riding for 3 + months. I usually ride through the winter, well enough to stay in some sort of shape.
While I am not excited about droping $800 bucks to join the Y to use the pool I am kind of excited to try something new. My Dr. told me I can swim and I plan on using this to keep my cardio and tone up over the winter.
Problem is I have no idea where to start. From goggles, suit, to what to do in the pool other than swim. In cycling I always tell beginners any cycling is better than no cycling, I would guess this is true for swimming (at a beginner level).
I know how to swim and was on the swim team through grade school (yeah I know a long time ago but at least I know what its about). I have tried to read some of the posts here about training, but to be honest I just dont know the lingo.
Like most things I will probably get hooked on this and want to see what I can do with it. I would like to work up to doing 1-2 hours.
Thanks for the help.
Al
Parents
Former Member
Heythorp,
I just saw this thread and welcome back to swimming ... sorry you had to get here grudgingly off the bike, but I hope you'll find a lot of good advice scattered throughout the discussion forums. Here are a few thoughts on getting back into shape.
Ah thank you for the advise this actually seems like something I can live with. I do have a question though.
In cycling, at the beginning of the year I work on my base fitness. I wont do intervals or hill repeats for almost 1000 miles. Certainly there is a base fitness I need to gain in swimming for me to do some of this, no?
How many yards do I need to do to obtain a base in swimming before really starting to push for speed (which to be honest with you is not my main goal, but I wouldn't mind getting faster). I figured i would need at least a good 4 weeks of doing what I am doing before starting to really work on speed. My arms just need some time. But I am amazed at my results already.
I have been reading some interesting things on this site, I am very interested in trying some of the training ideas/techniques.
Thanks for the input I think I am going to start implementing your example slowly while I work on my base.
Thanks for the help.
Heythorp,
I just saw this thread and welcome back to swimming ... sorry you had to get here grudgingly off the bike, but I hope you'll find a lot of good advice scattered throughout the discussion forums. Here are a few thoughts on getting back into shape.
Ah thank you for the advise this actually seems like something I can live with. I do have a question though.
In cycling, at the beginning of the year I work on my base fitness. I wont do intervals or hill repeats for almost 1000 miles. Certainly there is a base fitness I need to gain in swimming for me to do some of this, no?
How many yards do I need to do to obtain a base in swimming before really starting to push for speed (which to be honest with you is not my main goal, but I wouldn't mind getting faster). I figured i would need at least a good 4 weeks of doing what I am doing before starting to really work on speed. My arms just need some time. But I am amazed at my results already.
I have been reading some interesting things on this site, I am very interested in trying some of the training ideas/techniques.
Thanks for the input I think I am going to start implementing your example slowly while I work on my base.
Thanks for the help.
