Swimming - how fast am I?

[mattnunn]

Hi, I've been swimming on and off for a few years for fitness and when my feet are bad from running, I had the snip a few months ago and have been swimming at least twice since because I'm scared of doing my spuds a mischief with anything else.

Anyway so I feel I'm improving but am not sure quite how to rate my progress, there's no point in comparing myself to pro times because those guys are insane, but I seem to be keeping up with most of the "fast laners" at the pool.

I'm doing ~50 lengths (25m pool) in 30/35 minutes, mostly crawl but I mix it up due to boredom and tiredness.

Is this acceptable, I mean am I actually getting any benefit? I certainly feel good after wards but as I'm getting better and my breathing is better I'm not getting so tired after wards but can't seem to speed up. For general all round healthy fitness should I be trying to swim faster or for longer?

[mattnunn]

z4chris99 said:

1200m ish in 30 mins is 36second 25's right?

I'd say your pretty slow, go faster!

as regards to distance my sessions were between 85-100 25s but were sets and most at sprint pace. The rate of people throwing up after was pretty high...

I'd go for that kind of high intentisy training rather than just slow steady non stop.

Edited by z4chris99 on Wednesday 18th July 19:01

Cheers, I'm not sure throwing up at the public pool is going to make me popular! I'm going tonight so I'll try to do some sprinting, as I don't think I'm technically a very good swmimmer I do think I hit a brick wall in terms of getting faster though, but I'll try my hardest!

[mattnunn]

Thanks, I'll check out the Zoggs thing, I just got back from the pool, I was doing 50m flat out then 100m chill out then swapping strokes although I can't do backstroke very well without risking injury to all and butterfly - forget it.

After 2 sets of that on each stroke (24 lengths), I was completely fked and got a cramp, feel good now though, I can run a 10km in 40mins (ish) but this swimming lark is fking hard work!

I will go faster...

[mattnunn]

z4chris99 said:

for a nice 30/45 min session try;

8 lengths warm up choice

then do a slider with a short rest . 80% effort

25 25 25 50free
50fly 25 25 25
25 50back 25 25
25 25 50breast 25

then 10x50 max effort. get out at the end of each, touch the wall turn round and go again

then some fun stroke play, 8x50 arms concentrate on stroke

then try some sprint 12.5 drift the rest. x 16. do in sets of 4 with 60 rest

finish with a 400IM then warm down

should make you sick

That's great Chris, but as I said I can't do the butterfly and I don't want to be sick in the pool!

[mattnunn]

Smitters said:

I've always found that if you take the professional time for something and add half as much again, it's a nice little benchmark. If you're under the 150% mark, you're reasonably competent. Over that, slow. Doesn't work brilliantly for the shortest distances, but otherwise it's a decent rule of thumb.

I'd be interested on what others think to that.

Yes, sort of works, 15 second 100m seems reasonable, 3 hour marathon is a bit of challenge though