Swimming

Fratto

My Swimming is finally starting to make headway!

I Started swimming last August a couple times a week for 2 months and would swim from one end to the next dying after the huge 25yd lap. I was proud when I  did  my 300 meter swim in a sprint at 6 minutes!   Then I joined EN and started the EN offseason and quit swimming again for mostly the entire 5 months.  Now after gettin into general prep and swimming about 2000yds 3x a week I  did a 1000yd test in 17minutes and wondered if I was counting laps right!  So today  I swam 2x500 both in 8:30 than 2x200 in 3:15  and then 2 more 500s in 8:30... So I guess I validated I was counting laps right!  If im not careful I might turn into  a half way decent swimmer ( for a triahtlete)

mattsull

Nice work! Looks like things are progressing nicely.

Kitboo

Nice!
I would've never believed that no swimming in the off-season was okay until I did it. I swim just as fast (which isn't fast) as when I swam Masters 3-4 times a week for MONTHS. I think what really helped me was those drills from the Swim eBook.

Al Truscott

 If you really did all those 500s and 200s at that speed ... I bet you did two extra lengths (50 excess yards) on your time trial. You can put in shorter distances on the data tool to calculate a T pace until your next 1000 yard effort.

chuckg

Philip, I would totally have to agree with you. When I first read that there was NO swimming during the OS, I have to admit, I questioned the process. BUT, I have been back in the pool for almost 3 weeks now and althought the form is still not where it needs to be, I don't feel like I have lost much being out to the pool. Although, being back in the water feels great. Now only if the ice would break up, I might venture out for an open-water swim.

Nemo Brauch

Back in the pool after the long OS break too (swimming this time- I spent pleanty of OS time there water running- ugh). Anyway- I gotta say the first few weeks were rough, but it's all starting to click again and my times are pretty much where they would have been if I'd spent all winter with my old Masters group. Nice.

BTW- I wanna say Thanks to Coach Rich for the new swim workouts in the plans this year. I'm liking them much better! OK- they are freakin long (common dude, 3800 meters for HIM training? WTF?) but the variety is really good. I esp like the workouts where the speed changes along the way (like today- it was 4x200, last 50 sprint, 4x150, last 50 sprint, etc) For some reason that change really helps me feel like I'm doing something more interesting than wall tag.

Fratto

I will have to wait until next year to see how well I rebound from No swimming since this year I barely count my swimming previously. Seeing how much of it is form and technique I believe all of you that it should come back quickly aslong as I maintain good form.
@Al - The times were all within a couple seconds with taking time to stop the watch def none slower than 8:35. I did go to a swim clinic and get some good feeback from a good swim coach between the 1000 and todays laps. before it was over I had corrected one hand from crossing over a little. By the time we got around to to video taping me All he had to say was well im being picky but you could lift your head a little. so that could have also made a difference in my times and I was also a little worried about blowing up part way through so I might have gone a little easier than I could have.
So all my time trying to get the form right by watching EN swim book and some other resources paid off.

Thanks for the comments!

Gordon Cherwoniak

Philip,

 

I just hit my first pool session in 3 years yesterday.  I was around your sprint time hitting 100m in around 2 minutes.  This is typical speed for me at the start.  Good work on the improvements in the pool.  I hope to see increases like yours with the drills and a few more sessions.  I'll have to get back to you after my general prep block in 4 weeks.

Gordon