Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage
-
No new posts
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2007-02-16 8:44 AM |
Member 43 | Subject: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage Is it more important to swim for the number of minutes indicated in a training plan, or to complete the specified yardage? Yesterday's easy workout was listed as 40 mins / 1800 yds.. I did the recommended workout but found that I was finished in about 25 mins. I'm usually pressed for time so I typically stick to the yardage. |
|
2007-02-16 9:11 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 1362 Charlotte, NC | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I asked the same question to the coaches 2 months ago when I started my plan. Here's the answer they provided: "The time for the swims is going to vary b/c the plan is created for such a wide variety of swimmers - fast/faster/fastest - (no one is slow!) - so if you have the time and energy, you are always welcome to do more as long as you aren't getting injured or overdoing it where you are compromising your next workout. " |
2007-02-16 9:11 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 3019 West Jordan, UT | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage Well you swim distance in races, not for time. SO I would say go with distance if in doubt. It does seem to me that if you can finish the workout in about half the time, maybe you should find a more challenging workout. |
2007-02-16 9:26 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Extreme Veteran 310 Colorado Springs | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I tend to swim distances vs. time because, depending on the swimmers pace, endurance, form, and type of workout (endurance, drills, etc. ) the actual distance covered during a specific timeframe will vary. A distance that takes me 15 minutes to swim, might take someone else 10 minutes and another person 20 minutes. I look at it like this: During the race the distance we have to cover will be the same, regardless of how long it takes us to finish so I want to know I can swim the distance. Hope this helps. Sarge |
2007-02-16 9:41 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 1695 STL | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I do yardage...i don't have alot of time either (35 minutes for everything). I go 3x's a week...i figure something is better than nothing. My burning question is: How long should your long swim be? I know it's good to go over your distance, but i don' t see the point in doing say a 2000y swim for a 750y tri.. |
2007-02-16 9:52 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 1790 Tyler, TX | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I use the training program as a general guide to follow, not a bible that has to be followed. For swimming, I have clear personal yardage goals, not total minute goals, when I start a workout. I expect that this yardage will translate somewhat near the minutes that my plan suggests I should be swimming. If I have a good workout, I don't worry at all if I'm over or under on the minutes. FWIW, I usually seem to be under...
|
|
2007-02-16 9:59 AM in reply to: #692793 |
Champion 6285 Beautiful Sonoma County | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage Ahhhh..."fast/faster/fastest" hahahahaha! Even under that idea, I'm still "slow". I swim for time. There's no way I can do the workouts listed in my training plan anywhere near the time guideline. So, I modify the workout a bit to keep to the general idea (whether it's a long, steady workout, or sprints, etc.). I figure that my workout doesn't give me mileage runs or rides, but just times (run for an hour, bike for 2+ hours), so that's what I do for those workouts. But that's just me. If I had tried to do last night's swim workout in its entirety, I probably would have been in the pool for nearly 2x 45 minutes. Plus, anything after about 1500 yards is a waste, since I'm tired and my form starts to suck. |
2007-02-16 9:59 AM in reply to: #692684 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I do yardage for swims but time for the run and bike..... |
2007-02-16 11:49 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Lethbridge, Alberta | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I always keep swimming to the end of the pool, even if I go over on time. |
2007-02-16 11:53 AM in reply to: #692684 |
Expert 1035 lake forest, California | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage Like the popular opinion I swim the distance and bike/ run the time. Swim sets are important - time depends on your speed. If you finish your 40 minute workout in 25 then definitely add sets! Edited by jbjboc 2007-02-16 11:53 AM |
2007-02-16 11:59 AM in reply to: #692755 |
Sneaky Slow 8694 Herndon, VA, | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage AF_SGT - 2007-02-16 10:26 AM I tend to swim distances vs. time because, depending on the swimmers pace, endurance, form, and type of workout (endurance, drills, etc. ) the actual distance covered during a specific timeframe will vary. Sarge I was thinking about this post, in relation to the fact that many of us swim for distance, and bike/run for time. But why? Doesn't the same hold true for running and biking... that the actual distance will vary? I swim for distance and bike/run for time, but now, I have no idea why. Now, it doesn't seem to make any sense, differentiating between swim and bike/run. |
|
2007-02-16 12:12 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Expert 647 Sarnia, Ontario | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I do all 3 for time. If I finish a swim workout early then I just swim easy until time is up. Or sometimes spend more time with the kickboard, kicking easy. I find this really helps loosen up the legs sometimes. However, the plans list distance in yds, and I usually do the same distance in meters, so I don't usually finish that much ahead of the alloted time. |
2007-02-16 12:13 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Extreme Veteran 492 Home port | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage What's more important, time or distance?? I would say neither, or both. Most training plans quote both, to accomodate for those of us who are slow or fast. If swimming is not your best, I personally would go for the time. The reason is obvious, if you aint fast, you're going to be in the water for a long time, and you better be prepared. For me, swimming is my strength, and I shoot for distance. As for biking and running, I keep my long days as time(hrs), but shorter days, I generally go for distance. |
2007-02-16 12:23 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 1641 Seattle, California | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I set aside an hour block and do what I can in that time. I swim with my tri club so we usually have a coach that give us a swim workout that will take an hour. |
2007-02-16 12:35 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Expert 755 SF-Bay Area | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I swim distances that fit in during my lunch-hour swims (3x's/wk). So, usually that's 45 min (50 min tops) of "pool time". For me, that works out to 2000-2500m depending on the type of swim workout. So, I guess you'd put me in the "Minutes" category, technically. Not maxing out my available "pool time" (equivalent to swimming shorter distances) feels wasteful to me for some reason. |
2007-02-16 12:50 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Master 1240 Knightdale/Raleigh | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I plan all three for time, but I'm picky about logging my progress, so I plan a goal distance as well. Especially when running and biking, I pick a measured route that I will finish in about the right time. In the pool I simply aim for as many laps as I can in a given time, of course completing my last lap. I measure my progress by my pace. |
|
2007-02-16 1:27 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I do the distance over the time. I tend to try to swim the race distance every swim workout since the more you do it the faster you get and the shorter it becomes. It make say to swim more than you would in the race only because you will bike and run after that. its a way of getting more time in without doing bricks. Plus if you can swim a mile you should be pretty rested then if you come out at .5 miles. Plus it tends on your goals. Those who want to finish vs those who want to go fast. |
2007-02-16 1:52 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage I do whatever is longer. Usually I end up swimming for time because I can finish the distance in less time. Just add some sets on to the end. |
2007-02-16 2:47 PM in reply to: #692684 |
Pro 3673 MAC-opolis | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage For what it's worth, I do time on all 3. However, as I'm nearing the end of my time, I try to round up in distance to the mile on bike, quarter mile on foot, 50 yard in pool; so I tend to go past my time a few mins. for each. |
2007-02-16 2:58 PM in reply to: #692984 |
Extreme Veteran 310 Colorado Springs | Subject: RE: Swim Workouts - Minutes vs. Yardage newLeaf - 2007-02-16 10:59 AM AF_SGT - 2007-02-16 10:26 AM I tend to swim distances vs. time because, depending on the swimmers pace, endurance, form, and type of workout (endurance, drills, etc. ) the actual distance covered during a specific timeframe will vary. Sarge I was thinking about this post, in relation to the fact that many of us swim for distance, and bike/run for time. But why? Doesn't the same hold true for running and biking... that the actual distance will vary? I swim for distance and bike/run for time, but now, I have no idea why. Now, it doesn't seem to make any sense, differentiating between swim and bike/run. From what I gathered from posts in the past, and please correct me if i'm wrong, the main difference in training for time in run/bike and distance for swim is this: the swim is the "technical leg" being the shortest of the three. You can improve your speed more through drills than just going for a specified time just by doing my drills I usually exceed the time required for a given training session. That being said, open water swimming is different than lap swimming in that if you stray off course, the distance will likely become longer. Which is why I train way over the swim distance I will be racing. I want to know for darn sure I will have the stamina to not drown when i'm out there. Conversly, the body needs to slowly build the endurance and mucular strength for the bike/run portions. Also, you are much less likely to go off course in an event where you can actually see where you are going.....just my 2 cents |