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When would you start swimming again?

UnknownUnknown
in General Training Discussions

When would you start swimming again? My first race is the Rev3 Half in Knoxville on May 15th. If is matters, I swam 34 minutes at the Austin 70.3.  Havn't swam since...

Comments

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    I haven't swam since IMFL but I'm getting back in the pool today. I have an Oly on April 3rd, Texas 70.3 on April 10th and IMTX on May 21st.
  • gsadleriiigsadleriii
    I too haven't swam since Austin 70.3 and have my IM May 7th. Been thinking about getting into the pool 1-2x per week now bumping up to 2-3x per week in Feb and focusing on form. Noticed in my Nov OS forums that a good handful of folks have started swimming recently (some in masters some just form)...we're in week 11.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    Totally depends on your comfort level in the water. You have a good swim time. If you started swimming 2-3x/week, 4-5 weeks out from your race, you should be fine.

    In the OS you are improving your engine and aerobic capacity greatly. It takes about 2-3 weeks to feel like you are back to normal with swimming. Form should be there with muscle memory.

    Everyone is different. Some folks love to swim for relaxation and it's not so hard on the body, so they never really stop for the winter. I love to swim but the ROI for getting to the pool and getting a lane makes me want to scream. I put it off until 8 weeks out and then only swim 1 night per week (Fridays when no one else wants to be there).
    At 4 weeks I start open water swimming 2x during the week after work and add 1 afternoon on the weekend 2 weeks out.
  • Kathy NKathy N

    What Michele said.  Everyone is different and has their own comfort/skill level in the open water.  I normally swim in the winter, however last year I joined EN to train for IMWI and took the coaches advice ( I am comfortable in the water and do not sweat the swim) and did not swim from Nov to end of April.  Raced a half on June 12th...and was more than ready.  Last fall jumped back into a masters group for fun, but if I decided to drop it for the winter, I know from previous experience, it would not effect my swim readiness come race day.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    I do not have a long history of swimming. I took 3 weeks off in December, started back in January and I'm probably 85% back after 2 weeks. I was surprised how quickly I lost it. I agree with Michelle and think the better swims, especially those who swam as kids, can get it back quickly. The ROI may not be high, but the pool is less than 5 minutes from my house, and the amount of time it takes me to get a lane at Masters can be measured by how fast I can set my toys on the edge, put on my goggles and get in. I'm always in the water and swimming within 10 mins of having left my house.
  • atasicatasic

    My January OS ends with two triathlons, week 19, May 15 sprint and week 20, May 22 olympic. I would start now. It takes me 8 weeks to return to previous level, than I want to clock in improvement. I don't have to, I am an FOP swimmer. I am also not a good reference for this either ,as I am not the EN norm. Better to consult with WSM or coaches.  

    I have started in Nov. 2010 with some pretty large main sets that include all around swimming, again not what triathlon needs and certainly not what EN advocates. Take my info with great restraint and reservation.

    If you completely fit into EN mold, I would clear with coaches and use one of the swim hacks they have, one that is appropriate to your level and need.

  • JClisheJClishe
    Timely question, as the Rev3 Knoxville HIM will be my first race too. I'm planning on getting back in the pool in late March.

    Jason
  • ejbeach01ejbeach01
    I started a couple weeks ago. 2x per week at first, now 3x per week. I have a race in may too.

    Most workouts are easy - 1500 - 2000 yards. I warm up with a mixed 500 and then do some 100's, 200's or 300's. Nothing hard or fast yet since I have had a torn rotator cuff since high school. It takes my shoulder a while to get into the swim of things.

    I was a college swimmer, so I don't have any trouble holding back. I am doing my best to not get any more fatigued than I already am...just looking to get my form back and keep some basic endurance.

    Plus I really like kicking sets for tired legs. I really feel like the added bloodflow helps recovery and flexibility.
  • dragonflykissesdragonflykisses
    I'm not swimming until March 1.

    -Robert
  • UnknownUnknown
    I like the March 1st idea...
  • michaelgasser17michaelgasser17
    I fall into the terrible form category of swimmers, so I've started back swimming with on hour long session a week on only technique with a personal coach, and one 30 min session a week of technique drills on my own. I have some sprints and olys in march and April and a half iron in may.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    I'm in NOS, with a race in June. I don't have to start swimming now, but I have. I've been taking it very easy, though. Just a couple times a week (generally Mon/Fri), and if I miss it, I try not to worry about it. My feeling is that this is sort of my "pre-OS" swim time...i.e., I haven't been swimming for a few months, and I'm just swimming enough that when I do start Swimming (March, probably), I'm not totally starting from scratch. It's a way to burn a few calories and still rest. I've lined up some coaching in February, and again, I wanted not to be just absolutely starting from scratch when that happened.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Good range of input from the Team here. Thanks! My notes:

    • Most people feel like crap in the water for about 2wks but are usually suprised by how slow they are NOT, given months and months out of water.
    • 2-4wks: feel much better and times start dropping fast.
    • 5-6wks: usually about back at 90-95% of their last race swim fitness/times
    • 8wks: 100%
  • mattsullmattsull
    Posted By Rich Strauss on 18 Jan 2011 04:59 PM

    Good range of input from the Team here. Thanks! My notes:

    • Most people feel like crap in the water for about 2wks but are usually suprised by how slow they are NOT, given months and months out of water.
    • 2-4wks: feel much better and times start dropping fast.
    • 5-6wks: usually about back at 90-95% of their last race swim fitness/times
    • 8wks: 100%

    This has been my experience exactly.

  • Rich_BRich_B
    Posted By Rich Strauss on 18 Jan 2011 04:59 PM

    Good range of input from the Team here. Thanks! My notes:

    • Most people feel like crap in the water for about 2wks but are usually suprised by how slow they are NOT, given months and months out of water.
    • 2-4wks: feel much better and times start dropping fast.
    • 5-6wks: usually about back at 90-95% of their last race swim fitness/times
    • 8wks: 100%





     

    Excellent.  I'll stay dry till 2/1 and then have plenty of time for IMTX on 5/20. 

  • mkmiecmkmiec

    Great thread, thanks everyone who has posted so far.

    Because Monday nights are just super easy for me to get to the pool I have started a 1x per week swim.  I plan on hitting the pool more regularly about 8 weeks before my first Olympic race of the season.

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