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How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do?
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 2008-08-12 11:40 AM |
Extreme Veteran  325   Victoria |  Subject: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do?Hey everyone! Hope the end of the season (well for some) is going well for everyone! Now I'm sure this topic has come up quite a bit in these forums, but I'm a little bit dense when it comes to the search function, so here we are! I was a competitive swimmer all through middle/high school and swam Varsity the first year of University. I ended up quitting due to the attitudes of pretty much every coach I had (degrading, condescending), since I had put up with it for so long. That said, I was previously a distance swimmer, so I would put in between 60-70km weeks throughout most of the year. At all the triathlons I've done, I've always been in the top 5 out of the water, usually 2nd-3rd, and didn't feel like I had to push myself too much. My time is usually around 19-20 mins. for the 1500 and I split 25ish for the 2km swim at my only HIM. I realize that I can probably get by with very VERY little swimming, but to be honest, I didn't feel great at my last triathlon after the swim (split 20:23) and I was beaten by 2 mins. by a guy I used to train with (granted, he has sponsors and doesn't do anything but train). How much can I train in swimming without sacrificing training in the other disciplines? I've also picked up a little ITBS in my hip, but it's getting better due to consistent stretching, and I have a little extra time to swim now. I'm sorry this post reads more like a novel, but I've been getting different answers from all over the place! Thanks in advance guys and gals! Derbear |
| 2008-08-12 11:52 AM in reply to: #1597264 |
Pro 5761  Bartlett, TN | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? Why settle for being 2nd or 3rd out of the water. It sounds to me that you would not have to put in a whole lot of extra time inthe swim before you'd be first out of the water! It is a race, the entire event is a race, not just the bike and run.
So if I knew I had a chance to be first out of the water, I would not settle for second!
Good luck! |
| 2008-08-12 11:59 AM in reply to: #1597264 |
| Veteran 277 Syracuse, NY | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? Good job, you're fast man. Train to lower your overall time between all three disciplines. Your swimming is very strong, you have only minor gains to be had in that split. To get swimming to the next level, you'd probably have to approach your uni training level again. You may even be going too hard on the swim, because you know you can excel... you'll have a better overall race by pacing yourself. Again, you'd have to look at each discipline and how much your training level needs to change in each to provide a gain, then divvy up your time into the highest overall gain scenario. |
| 2008-08-12 12:07 PM in reply to: #1597330 |
Master 2060 Northern California | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? jford2309 - 2008-08-12 9:52 AM Why settle for being 2nd or 3rd out of the water. It sounds to me that you would not have to put in a whole lot of extra time inthe swim before you'd be first out of the water! It is a race, the entire event is a race, not just the bike and run. So if I knew I had a chance to be first out of the water, I would not settle for second! Good luck!
Not me. If I had a choice between 1st out of the water and a podium spot, I'd take the podium spot. |
| 2008-08-12 12:23 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Master 1325 Lake Oswego, OR | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? As a good swimmer one of the greatest challenges for me is to follow the advice: train your weaknesses, race your strengths. It just is a lot more fun training my strengths. But I've decided I want to improve my overall triathlon results and the best way for me is to train more, and harder, at the other disciplines. It is difficult to deal with being beat in the swim by people you know you could beat with a bit more swim training, but at this point I am more focused at not letting so many people pass me in the bike and run. However, there is nothing wrong with training to be the first out of the water, just accept that you may have a slower finishing time as a result. |
| 2008-08-12 12:29 PM in reply to: #1597362 |
Pro 5761 Bartlett, TN | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? coachese - 2008-08-12 12:07 PM jford2309 - 2008-08-12 9:52 AM Why settle for being 2nd or 3rd out of the water. It sounds to me that you would not have to put in a whole lot of extra time inthe swim before you'd be first out of the water! It is a race, the entire event is a race, not just the bike and run. So if I knew I had a chance to be first out of the water, I would not settle for second! Good luck!
Not me. If I had a choice between 1st out of the water and a podium spot, I'd take the podium spot.
I am sorry. I in no way meant to imply that one should settle for being first out of the water vs. a podiuum spot, but it is a race and I want to go as fast as possible in all three phases. It does not sound like it would take alot of extra training for this guy to be the first out of the water. For me, a good swim means a good bike, and a good bike means a good run. I say try your best at each leg of the race to get to the podium. Edited by jford2309 2008-08-12 12:30 PM |
| 2008-08-12 12:40 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Extreme Veteran 325 Victoria | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? Wow thanks for all the quick replies! I can't believe it's taken me so long to ask this question, but these answers are helping a ton. It's only lately that I've been conflicted, since the last Triathlon I did, I just didn't even feel good while swimming. That's what worries me. I know that I could push to the front and possibly come out first on the swim, but I'd much rather have a strong bike so I don't get passed by everyone + their mother. The problem with me is, is that I want to feel strong in the water, instead of feeling like I'm pushing it, which was definitely how I felt previously. Thanks for the replies guys! |
| 2008-08-12 12:48 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Master 1420 Reston, VA | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? I am an ex swimmer as well and started triathlons last year. I really ramped up my swim yardage at first as I had not swam in a number of years and needed to both get back in shape and loose a few pounds without injuring myself. Once I had a decent swim base, I backed off my swim time and put significantly more time in on the bike and run. Looking at your logs and races, I would suggest spending a majority of your time biking, while slowly building up your run base. For the swim I would get in 3-4 times per week if you have the time. Swimming that much will not make you a lot faster, as you are already fast, but should allow you to come out of the water fresher and build your aerobic base. |
| 2008-08-12 1:03 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Coach 10487 Boston, MA | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? with a sub 20 min for a 1.5K or 25 for HIM I would say just swim enough to keep your times around there. that could be as little as 10K or maybe 15-20K per week (there is no magic number) You obviously have FOP times for the swim leg, hence spend your time improving the bike/run; you have an advantage which is with little pool time you will still kick butt on the swim. Now the main focus should be for you to become competitive at all 3 sports Good luck |
| 2008-08-12 1:07 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
| over a barrier | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? I would do very little swimming. Train your weakness and race your strength. I'm generally Top 10% out of the water now, used to be Top 7% but my overall placing is much higher now that I work on cycling and running... Put the swim in maintance mode... Edited by running2far 2008-08-12 1:07 PM |
| 2008-08-12 1:15 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
| Folsom, CA (Sacramento Area) | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? How is your running and cycling? I get out of the water on the top 20% but finish the run in the bottom 20%. I only swim twice a week and try to spend more time on the bike and running where it makes more sense. If I kill myself on the swim I might gain 3 minutes that is only about 30 seconds per mile on the run (this year I have dropped a full minute per mile in my Oly's) |
| 2008-08-12 4:04 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
| Member 61 | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? I had this question without even know it too! These are great replies.. I'm in a similar boat... not as fast as DerekWL, but swimming is my strength. Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm glad I read this thread. |
| 2008-08-12 4:28 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Melon Presser 52116 | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? Great question, not much to add, pretty much just adding my voice to concur with maintain the swim enough to stay FOP and feel good, but spend the bulk of time in cycling and then running. Bob Stocks (the resident swim guru) and I had a very similar discussion with Coach Kevin in Swim Chat last night (I'm wondering how to train the swim for my IM, and my background is similar to yours). I'll be doing 3 swims of 2000-2500 to begin with (4th swim optional) per week, one of them being longish/continuous and preferably open-water. The yardage but not frequency will slowly increase to 3000-4000 yds per session, maybe a few LD swims getting close to 5K in the highest-volume period. Good luck! |
| 2008-08-12 6:23 PM in reply to: #1597264 |
Expert 910 North Metro ATL | Subject: RE: How much swimming should an ex-swimmer do? I am primarily a runner. Not a GREAT runner but a very good/strong runner. I want to be better (read faster) at the marathon so ANY training I do is with that focus in mind. So even though the bike is my weakness I still put the most effort and emphasis on the run. However since you do not plan on swimming competively I suggest putting the swim on the back burner and focus on the bike or the run. I am by no means a tri expert but I think you could still improve, given your back ground, on the swim by doing one long swim a week, one speed work swim and one easy/recovery/focus on technique swim. I think you will still some improvement and remain a top competitor in the swim.
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