From splasher to swimstar...I hope!
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The mind set of 3 x 500 plus 100 did help. I thought I was going faster and I had a longer cool down distance after. Next question: should I continue swimming the 1600M every other swim and switch up my "drills" on the off day?0
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I think that's a good way to go to build the endurance for the distance - it's 1 thing to be able to make the distance, it's another to make it at a good pace & getting your body used to the distance is the best way to do that. Not only is it conditioning, it's the mental aspect of knowing HOW to swim that distance & how to pace yourself........0
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What would we girls do without you Mac?
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*blushing* Can't say I hear that very much (other than from my wife & daughter)........0
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I just recently joined MFP and just today found the Swimmer group. I'm a college student and have swam consistently for the past 16 years of my life and it's my favorite type of exercise. Now I'm trying to get healthy and exercise in different ways, but I'm so awkward on land! I realize that's how some people feel in the water, so I commend you all for going for it. I'm a Red Cross swim instructor, lifeguard, and water aerobics instructor, and I just want to say how cool it is to see you all talking about swimming because you want to get healthy, not just to break some record. Keep swimming! I look forward to learning more.0
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Glad to have another knowledgeable person on board. Welcome to the site!0
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Hey everyone!
I love how we've built this group
I've had a full week off swimming since hurting my back but hope to get at least one swim in this week before recommencing lessons this Sunday.
I decided to do one more session of lessons before the summer to really consolidate what I've been learning and then I can branch out on my own.
Looking forward to getting back in the pool!
Lxx0 -
Be careful with your back! Swimming uses some back muscles...just make sure to be wary of it when you're turning. You also might want to avoid butterfly and dolphin kick for a little while. Kicking on your front with a kickboard can put some strain on it too, so when my back's bothering me I try not to use a board and stay in a straight position on my side or back.
Hope your lesson goes well!0 -
Ease back in, listen to whatever your body tells you & stretch well. welcome back!!!!!!!!!!0
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Thanks for the advice!
My chiropractor says swimming should be ok. It's my very lower back and pelvis that are causing me problems - my sacroiliac joint so I think front crawl kick etc ok but doc said take it easy with breaststroke kick.
I'll be careful!
Lxx0 -
Also be careful on the turns - hold off on flip turns for awhile & be careful how hard you push off the wall.....0
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I timed my mile again today and only shaved off 40 seconds. I was hoping for a minute. My tiime is still slow but hopefully when I can swim a practice run in OW it will be faster because of no turns. Oh well:ohwell:0
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Lauro- glad you can swim again
Holly- You still dropped 40 SECONDS!! That's awesome. Just keep going and you'll keep seeing improvements. And cardiovascular endurance isn't the only factor, technique is too, so keep that in mind!0 -
Rom83,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm planning to swim an OW mile swim in Aug. I really don't care if I come in last just as long as it isn't WAY last. I'm a 63 yr.old. Just didn't think 40 seconds was a lot in comparison to the distance I swam. Thanks again.0 -
It actually IS a good drop - look more at long term trends, especially when it comes to distance. As long as your time keeps dropping you're doing good for yourself. I think that by the time August comes you'll have a big overall drop in your time, but I have a funny feeling that even though it will be a bigger drop than you expected when you first started you're still gonna say you wish it was more - human nature being what it is & you being highly motivated......0
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I just had to share that I shaved another 53 seconds off my mile. I was thrilled. I've been doing more short sprinting. Don't know if it helped but I like to think it did.0
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Great job, Holly!!!!!!!! I'm sure the sprinting is helping. Overall, it's good to have a mix of workouts or a mix in your workout - the different aspects help in different ways......0
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I basically have 3 workouts plus my mile day. I do pretty much whatever mood I'm in or how much time I have. Thanks again for your help and support!0
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I'm really happy that you're getting to see the fruits of your labors...........0
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Good job, I swam 2 miles today @ 77 MIN.0
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Bruceapple, You still put me to shame. That will never happen for me in this lifetime. Good job.0
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I loved reading this thread and reading about everyone's progress. I am another in progress swimstar.
I grew up swimming, it was the only sport/activity that I kept up with during the years of growing up.
I got out of the habit for a few years and now getting back into it.
I signed up for 2 open water swims this summer. 2.1 km and 3.1 km
I practice twice a week with a Masters swim group. Mostly drills that help with technique and speed (total distance is usually around 2800m). It definitely challenges me.
Went swimming today and swam 2100 metres continuously. I want to go on Sunday and attempt to swim 3 km straight. Current average time for 50 metres is 1 minute.0 -
I'm so delighted to be back swimming.
I went to the Commonwealth pool the other night - the only 50m pool in the city. I really enjoy the longer lengths. I swam 1km. I could have made it to a mile but it was getting late and I needed to get home.
I will have to find a time when I am not rushed so I can do a long swim but also when I have time in the evening.
We had our usual instructor - John - back at lessons on Sunday. We were doing breaststroke again - love it!
Working on the timing of the stroke and we also practice backstroke push off from the starting blocks in the deep end - great fun!
Planning at least 2 practice swims this week in between lessons.
Lxx0 -
Fantastic!!! I think you did the right thing regardless of the time factor - you don't want to jump in too heavy, you're better shaking the rust off & then building back to what you were doing.......0
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Well, it was time to swim my nonstop freestyle mile and I was down another 37 seconds. That's a total of 2 min and 7 sec. My goal is another minute and 27 sec. I was very pleased because I really felt like I had a brick inside my suit. It seemed like hard work today.0
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Since there were only 3 people at Masters last night, I ended up doing the Endurance groups set. (3100 metres)
It was tough and I struggled a little, but I managed to do it all. The next session I am going to try the Endurance groups set again. I liked that extra push and workout I got. My heart rate was up and I was panting at the end of each drill/set.
I am sure that a few of the swimmers in the Endurance group will lap me.
The Mid-distance is just not enough for me anymore.
I also wore fins for the first time in 14 years.0 -
Holly - That is a great job, you're definitely going to make your time!!!! It's funny, the days I feel the worst going in seem to be the says I get my best workouts in....
Ashen - That is a BIG step, congratulations. Isn't it a great feeling when what you've been doing is no longer enough? It's also great that you have a group at your workouts that you can move into for the next step. Don't worry about whether anybody laps you or not, you're not at practice as a competition with the other swimmers, you're there to keep beating the clock by bringing your time down......0 -
Good job Ashen. More than once my technique was not stellar going farther. However, you go farther than I do. You'll get there and good discipline on your part. Keep on pulling. 0
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Hi everyone,
I've been a member of swimmers! group for quite some time but only recently got back on MFP and back to the pool. Was glad to find this thread, it's very interesting and useful!
I have a question about kicking for freestyle . I hate kicking with a passion and back a few years ago when I started swimming very regularly I read something about kicking not being important for long distances. So I think I used this as a good reason just to sort of "half kick" a very slow and often irregular kick. I usually swim around 2km and will mostly break that up into 4 sets of 500metres (20 lengths in my 25m pool). I swim for enjoyment but I would like to gradually work a bit on increasing speed and building up greater endurance. I figure I should do something about my kick but I often feel really uncoordinated with it, how fast should it be? Should there be a splash or should it be more or less completely underwater. Is it from the hips? I'm guessing so but how much if at all should there be a bend at the knee?
I'm finding it very difficult to reconcile this smooth action in my upper body with a completely different kind of movement in my legs. Any advice would be much appreciated0 -
electriq - The kick will also be a smooth movement, once you get used to it - especially when you're distance swimming. Yes, the kick IS from the hip, but not a great big up & down motion. You want to flutter your feet on the ends of your legs. I'm not sure how clear of a description that is, but once you feel it you'll know what 'm talk9ng about (it's obviously much easier to be able to show you in the water). The leg is straight, although not locked, a slight flex at the knee is OK if need be but don't kick up & down from the knee. Point your toes back toward the wall you pushed off of. As for a splash, it would be much more pronounced for a sprint as opposed to a distance swim because a sprinter is kicking (fluttering) the feet as fast as they can. For a distance swimmer it's a bit more controlled & rhythmic. Go to YouTube & search "2 beat kick freestyle" & you'll see some good videos. I know there are other swimmers in the group that can speak better than I can on which of the videos are the best. Kicking IS important for distance, it's just a different type of kicking than when you're sprinting. Without the kick your lower body sinks & drags, and the arms are doing all of the work. Your legs contain some of the biggest & strongest muscles in the body, you can either choose to put them to work or you can fight to drag them through the water. I hate kicking too, but it IS important. Work on the technique with a kickboard, if you have access to one, you can concentrate solely on the kick & it will become more comfortable......0
