I have been attempting to get in at least three swims a week and I haven’t really been succeeding lately (SEE: closed pools and needing sleep) but so far this week I’m on track. In order to get super duper prepared for the Frogman 5K swim in January (feel free to donate it’s for the Navy SEAL Foundation) I’ve been trying to swim at least 2,500 to 3,000 yards/meters per workout. (We have long course at my pool so those days are measured in meters.) I will get in some OWS (open water swims) and increase the distance as it gets closer.
The days of swimming 1,500 yards and calling it a day are gone. I miss those days.
On the plus side, I’ll be really prepared for my Ironman come September of next year. I also hear swimmers smell amazing. No wait. That’s not right.
In order to get in longer swims and not just have completely random workouts (Uhh…swim 100. Now swim 200…) I’ve been using the old interwebs to get workouts. I found that having a printed workout on the deck really helps keep me focused. I didn’t realize until swimming in my new hood that you could wet the back of a sheet of paper and stick it to a kick board or the side of the pool. I’d never done that before and it’s a great way to view a workout when a whiteboard or coach isn’t there.
Getting to 3,000 has been a challenge and when I swim on mornings that long course (50 meter is one length of the pool) is set up I get fatigued quicker than swimming short course. However, I think that long course is the best way to swim when training for distance if you can get it. The less flip turning you do, the better. IMO.
A few great sites for swim workouts are:
I must admit that this is probably the most cross training I’ve ever done during a marathon cycle. I’m enjoying it and hoping that it helps me get to the start line healthy.
Any websites you use for swim workouts? How far do you typically swim? Any interest in this post at all? Haha!
Swimming really helped me for my last marathon – I think it is what had me 30 seconds short of a PR on a super hilly course. My lung capacity was super high 🙂
No one understands more than I Beth. The only way I made sure to get my workout in was to get to the pool. Once I was in and swimming I was not going to let the distance beat me no matter how long I spent in-between intervals. You can do this. I will be there at the start and finish to cheer you on. Carpe Viam Beth! Seize the journey.
Does treading water while my kids swim count? I've never been a swimmer but I have always been able to swim…I'm afraid of what it would look like if I dove in the pool and got swimming…probably similar to a Will Farrel skit!
My pool was closed over much of the summer because of the Calgary flooding so I'm still getting back into it. Swimming maybe 1500 m or so. During IM training I routinely swam 3 to 4 K. Swimming long course is better for distance training. All the little set break ups drove me crazy. I hated needing notes to tell me what to swim. One day my coach apologized profusely, and said I had to swim for 1 hour without stopping. I nearly kissed her in gratitude. She was amazed when I told her the first time I looked at the clock was 1:12 hours, and I went to 1 hour 15 minutes just to have an even stopping time and be sure I'd got to 4K. Good luck with IM! Are you doing Lake Placid?
hmm..maybe I should start swimming then?
Next time you organize an OWS, maybe it down there to join in!
Can't wait for you to dominate your froggy swim
Good call! I get my swim workouts from the coach at masters practices, but they are usually 3000 to 4000 meters. It is the best cross training (I think) for running because it raises your vo2 max and helps the body process oxygen quicker than any other type of cross training does. So it will give you a huge endurance boost, which is helpful in marathon training.
These are usually pretty interesting:http://triathlon.competitor.com/tag/quick-set-friday
Thanks for the workout links. I swim 1000 meters and call it a day, so impressed with what you are doing!
Swimming definitely helped improved my breathing and learning how to keep myself calm. Cause flipping out in the pool is just not cool!
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I definitely need to be better about bringing workouts to the pool. Thanks for linking those. Also, Jaclyn from KickStart sent me a sample of these products called TriSwim that I love. They smell great and take the chlorine smell out of your skin and hair. Unless, of course, you're into that kind of thing…
http://shop.triswimbeauty.com/TRISWIM-Travel-Size-Shot-Set-TSHOTSET0050P.htm
It is NO secret that swimming is not my strong point and that I pretty much dread pool workouts. BUT I did find I was able to get into it once a while (seeing as I had to for 70.3 this year) and I know that I need to do it a LOT more for IM next year. Its just not something that I really enjoy. I love being in the water, but the monotony of back and forth can be daunting. I wish we had a longer pool near me, while it may tire me sooner I feel like less laps would help me!
After swimming 3000 most days, a 1500 feels like nothing, doesn't it?
Excited to swim with you in the morning. Have workouts definitely makes the swimming easier. It's such a mental struggle to come up with workouts on the fly. But now we can at least appreciate that we don't have to swim as much (as though I needed an excuse).
Those are some great swim workout resources, thanks! They'll come in handy for sure 🙂