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2008-04-28 8:45 PM


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Subject: Am I in over my head ?

My husband convinced me to be the swim leg of an adventure race in August.  That will be my only leg.  Prior to last week, I had never swam with my face in the water.  I've been going to the pool 3 times a week and doing my best to teach myself technique, endurance and speed.  I really don't have anyone to help me, and the limited advice I have gotten from some people conflicts.  Frown

Im not in bad shape.. I used to run 3 times a week, but now that I'm swimming, its only 2.  I also lift.  The swim for the race is 2.5 miles.  It just seems like a daunting task at this point.  Do you think I have time to be ready to swim 2.5 miles by August 4 ?  How do I know what to do at the pool to build myself up ?   

 



2008-04-28 8:52 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
wow, not a swimmer and tackling that distance? i applaud you. only you will know how you are progressing as a swimmer no one else. i believe everything is possible. so get out there and swim. that being said, running, and lifting, those dont help swimming. want to get good at swimming then swim is the saying. but if you need get a coach go get videos. i say do it. ill live through you doing that distance since im a wuss and wont do it myself
2008-04-28 8:59 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?

Nope, you'll be fine, unless you have some kinda fear of the water that would prevent you from a relatively normal pool training regimen.  Plenty of time (3 mo+) to build fitness to do the 2.5 miles.

That being said, you need time in the pool to be confident and/or get the swim done in a time you'll want. Lots of it.  The advice is pretty simple....sign up for a masters swim, locally, with a coach on deck.  That'll do two things for you...1) it'll provide some technique instruction that is invaluable when you're learning to swim, and 2) it'll provide a framework, with peers, to bring you through what can be a pretty solitary time (swimming alone). Peers help.

If you can't swing a masters swim, repost with some more specifics. There are plenty of BT'ers that could craft you a plan to get you to the necessary yardage, but they'd need to know your limiters / constraints. 

BTW, nice work jumping off that ledge. It'll be awesome.    

2008-04-28 9:02 PM
in reply to: #1368172


6

Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?

No masters program here.  I even called the Y in the next town over to sign up for a swimming personal trainer, and they didn't call back.

I got a 3 month workout from this site, but it doesn't say how far it is buidling you up to swim.  I'm more than willing for any help in crafting a workout.   

 

2008-04-28 9:04 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?

Welcome to BT! 

Not sure where you are, but see if the park district, YMCA, or even the Red Cross offer adult swim lessons.  You'll be far better off learning proper technique than trying to break bad habits later. 

2.5 miles seems daunting, but once you can swim 800-1000 yards non-stop, you'll be able to swim 4500 yards.  What I tell people starting out is "GO SLOW."  Think of swimming that distance like a walk in the park.  You can walk all day, but you can only sprint for a couple hundred yards.  Swimming is the same.  If you slow down and relax, you'll find out you can just about swim forever (with some practice).  If you're thrashing and splashing, you'll be worn out after 25 yards.  As a runner, keep your knees and ankles flexible (kick from the hip). 

For people just starting to swim with their face in the water:
Go slow
Exhale (hum) while your face is in the water (it'll keep water from getting up your nose)
Rotate (hips and torso)  to get a breath of air (as you get faster, you'll rotate less)

I'll have a few more suggestions later. 

2008-04-29 12:15 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
Try this link

http://ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html

takes you from the couch to swimming a mile.


2008-04-29 12:17 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Expert
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Orange County, California
Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
Try this link for technique and drills

http://www.totalimmersion.net/2005articles/february/breathing.html

Total Immersion has a great video you can buy for about 30 dollars. You might even find it at your local library.

The link above should have many of the drills from the video.
2008-04-29 7:21 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
Attached is a workout routine that may help build your distance. Good Luck!

http://ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html
2008-04-29 7:47 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?

Thats really close to an Iron distance swim. You could take an IM program and just use the swim portion to train by. Might be a good way to go.

I definitely suggest trying to find a coach if you can afford it. Getting your mechanics set from the beginning will pay dividends. It will also help prevent shoulder injury from poor technique. Swimmer's shoulder sucks, I can say that first-hand. If you cant afford a coach, get the TI video... or use the videos from this link for free as a cheap substitute.

http://www.brightcove.tv/channel.jsp?channel=5957401&firstVideo=32

2008-04-29 8:39 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
There have been a lot of good suggestions already posted. The biggest question I would have is what is the cutoff time.

After 3 months of swimming, I knew that I could complete 2.4 miles swimming, assuming not much current. What I don't know, even after 5 months of training, is if I can do 2.4 miles swimming in the 2:20 IM cuttoff time. I would have had a hard time with that cutoff after only 3 months of swimming. What is your current 100 yard ez pace split time?

This is not to say that this plan isn't doable. It sounds like a nice challenge, and I wish you the best.
2008-04-29 8:47 AM
in reply to: #1368172

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
I agree with the rest of the post. Unless there is a swimming phobia or something like that.... the distance will be doable in 3 months. Swimming for me when I first started was tough for every 100 meters I added to my long swim distance ,up until one point. One day you will hit that point where your body is now trained to swim period. Then it becomes an issue of how fast you can do a distance versus IF you can do a distance. This is what happened to me anyway. Hope it happens to you the same way.

I would also just send out a post to everybody as to where you live and chances are good you will find a BT'er with swim experience that would stop by one day and check out your technic and give you some advice.

My 2 cents


2008-04-30 1:38 PM
in reply to: #1368600

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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
bang182 - 2008-04-29 8:21 AM

Attached is a workout routine that may help build your distance. Good Luck!

http://ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html



Thats a great link. I am going to steal it for my own use!!
2008-04-30 2:05 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
Did your husband change your insurance policy lately?

*kidding*

Good luck!
2008-04-30 2:28 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Master
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?

Lots of good stuff here.  I'd like to add a couple small things.

1.  Master's classes are great for workouts, but I think you should really get one-on-one lessons as well.   

2.  There seems to be a progression that I've observed in myself, training partners, and lots of folks here too.  You start by being totally exhausted by swimming just a couple laps.  You stick with it and over a couple weeks you are up to a couple hundred yards.  Then all of a sudden, it clicks and you just ripped off 1000 straight.  At this point, you have a stroke.  From there forward, it becomes more about muscular endurance.  Once you can get through the distance, then you get faster by developing better stroke efficiency.  Now some of this might overlap, especially if you are training with more focus on swimming than the average triathlete, but this is a general progression that a lot of folks go through.

Good luck, work hard, and I think you can do this.   

2008-04-30 2:29 PM
in reply to: #1368172

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Master
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Subject: RE: Am I in over my head ?
oh yeah, make sure you practice lots in the open water.  its a little different than swimming in the pool.
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