Swim/Strength/Core - when?

Unknown

 This is my first outseason.  Although I know I'll be tired, I was going to add in the strength/core stuff, and eventually swim drills.  For those who have done it in the past, what is the best way to work those in?  For those planning it, how do you plan to do it?

Carl

Mark-
I tried that last year and all I can say is best of luck to you. I was sore, tired, etc. I did it for the first three weeks and then did not lift at all. I however did the OS swim hack all 20 weeks and would do my core workouts right there at the pools edge.

Joe Hallatschek

Mark - I recommend not swimming and doing some self-weight strength stuff at home for about maybe 30' on Monday and Friday that is low stress for the first month. This OS gets pretty intense and the Monday and Friday off lets you recover after and before the hard weekend work. Also, this is the time to build up the Spousal Approval Units and any Boss Approval Units you need.

We can talk about this in week 4 or 5 and see how it is working for you.

Carl

Here is what SUCKS if you are not a swimmer and no not swim all winter. Well you drop into either a HIM or IM plan and your first workout you are doing 3000 yards or so. For me that just is not doable and I found it relaxing and enjoyed working on my stroke and technique all winter. I can honestly say that swimming 5000 yards became very norm and often easy for me. My TT fell from 18:30 to 16:10. I bet I am back to about 18:30 now.

Coach Patrick

Both are great pieces of advice. You kinda need to choose. By doing the OS you are telling your body that bike and run threshold fitness are your priorities. But by adding swimming and strength, you confuse the issue. It won't know what you want, and it will get mad, resentful, and then throw a cold at you (or something).

If you fall into our really needs help swimmer category (slower than 2:00 per 100) then I'd go with the swim.

If you are better than that, then you can skip swimming and go with core.

OR, you can do 10 weeks of core and then 10 weeks of swimming...there is no real black and white here.

In my fifth OS (is that possible?) this year, and I won't be swimming (again), but I will be doing the core/functional strength stuff as I think my run needs it to improve!

Unknown

 Thanks for all the input.  My swim has always been fine (1:30/100 pool; 33:53 at Vineman70.3) and will hold off for a while.  I'm just dreading outdoor, early AM swimming over the winter!  Monday core/stretch should work out great.