How to use? Super-easy pool access.

Beth_S

Oh, what a good curse! Especially since city living rarely makes getting to the pool easy!  The high school pool two blocks away from my house is now open and has adult lap swim M-F, 8:30-9:15 p.m. How do I best use this to my training advantage?

1. I am maybe a back of the MOP swimmer right now and would like to be a solid MOP swimmer (or better) for Ironman Wisconsin in September.

2. I have master's team practice Tuesday and Thursday mornings (pool, 7 a.m., need to leave house at 5:45 a.m.)  and Wednesday evenings (open water).

 

Maybe make myself a "swim camp" for a few weeks? Would it make sense it get into the pool and do even a little bit of work more frequently? Other, brilliant ideas?

 

 

Coach Patrick

I think these later sessions should be technique only so as not to interfere with the rest of your swimming and/or sleep cycle. I could see a swim camp....maybe make up some technique goal like a tough swim golf score, etc? Anyone have tips here?

Jump4Joy19

Since frequency really helps with swimming, especially if you're working on technique, this is definitely a good thing. I would maybe pick one thing to work on per  week, and one or two drills to do, and use those extra days for technique work.

I often do a drill progression. For instance, if working on my catch, I will first swim the one-arm drill, so I can just focus on one arm's motion at a time. I'll do 4 lengths of just left arm, then 4 of just right arm. Then I'll switch to catch up (where only one arm is moving at a time but you alternate arms). I'll swim 4 lengths of catch-up, working on the same thing. Then I'll swim 8 lengths where I alternate catch-up and swimming regular stroke, trying to incorporate the changes into my stroke. Then 4 lengths of just regular stroke. Then go back and repeat the cycle.

You could tell your Masters coach what you're up to, and ask for some specific technique issues to focus on, and maybe a targeted drill or two to work with. That way you'd have a definite focus for each session.

Beth_S

Posted By Robin Clevenger on 04 Jun 2012 11:02 AM

Since frequency really helps with swimming, especially if you're working on technique, this is definitely a good thing. I would maybe pick one thing to work on per  week, and one or two drills to do, and use those extra days for technique work.

I often do a drill progression. For instance, if working on my catch, I will first swim the one-arm drill, so I can just focus on one arm's motion at a time. I'll do 4 lengths of just left arm, then 4 of just right arm. Then I'll switch to catch up (where only one arm is moving at a time but you alternate arms). I'll swim 4 lengths of catch-up, working on the same thing. Then I'll swim 8 lengths where I alternate catch-up and swimming regular stroke, trying to incorporate the changes into my stroke. Then 4 lengths of just regular stroke. Then go back and repeat the cycle.

You could tell your Masters coach what you're up to, and ask for some specific technique issues to focus on, and maybe a targeted drill or two to work with. That way you'd have a definite focus for each session.

 

Now that sounds like a good idea! Would you do a bit of swimming between drills? What would you suggest?