Home› General Training Discussions

Lake swim or Pool swim?

tggagnetggagne
in General Training Discussions

Hi everyone. I am fortunate to live within 2 minutes of a fabulous lake (and 30sec of a pool). The lake is prime training spot for all our local, national and international triathletes.

What are your thoughts on getting in the lake as often as possible vs hitting the pool 2-3 times per week and maybe 1 long swim in the lake?

Do you think there is benefit to swimming long and continous frequently?

I am comfortable in open water and am not intimidated by Ironman swims. Just curious as to what others might think like "are you kidding me, lake or 25m pool, no question there......"

Comments

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    I also live near easy access to open water- however the ocean is unpredictable so my "open water vs pool" decision usually comes down to this- if the ocean is swimable, swim in it. Else hit the pool. Even if I could swim in the ocean for every workout though, I think I'd hit the pool 2 out of the 3 workouts a week so that I can work on form and speed (I find it hard to do intervals or drills open water.
  • John StarkJohn Stark

    I prefer the lake to the pool every time.  However, you can work the intervals (and pacing) much better and more precisely in a 25 yard (or meter) pool.  Kinda like a track workout vs. running on the road.  They both have their place.

    But for "are you kidding me, lake or 25m pool, no question there......"  LAKE . . . most of the time.  That's just me.

     

  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Tim,

    I put my nickel's worth in the IMC forum.

    Gordon

  • Matt SamojedenMatt Samojeden
    I vote for the lake for the long swims and the pool for the interval drills.
    For the lake swims I put my polar GPS and watch in my swim cap ( so the GPS is above the water and can see the satellites and the GPS can talk to the watch) to record distance and pace for the workout.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    I think open water swimming, done frequently, is worth a minute or two of pool fitness. IOW getting comfy and going straight over time will make you faster without having to slay yourself in the pool for those extra 5" per 100. Lake!
  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    In this part of the country open water swimming is limited to a short period consisting of the warmer months of the year. As a result I get out in the near by lakes when ever I can. I have all winter to swim in the indoor pools.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    No doubt- LAKE!

    If you are a consistent swimmer with a consistent number of strokes per 25m/y, go OWS. I still do all of my intervals. When I get in the pool in the spring, I count my strokes for EVERY 25 and I limit pushing off despite flip turns. After a month, I know what my count will be for sprints, easy, hard efforts. Then I move to all OWS. I do my intervals by counting strokes. My times are basically identical. When the lake is like glass, I am faster, when it is choppy, I am slower. I still do my drills and form focus as well. But I swim VERY straight, so I think it is worth it that I don't have to stare at a black line.
  • kurshingkurshing
    I agree with folks on using the lake for MOST swims...but, I would still hit the pool maybe once a week just to do your stroke work. That being said, it you are an 'advanced' swimmer by EN standards and don't have drill work in your plan, then I would add some of the 'speed' work into your OW swimming. I guess the best way to do that is to know how many strokes it takes you to cover the distance of the pool and then use stroke count to build out the workouts instead of distances...since you don't have walls in the OW.

    I am jealous for sure!
Sign In or Register to comment.