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?

[z4chris99]

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

[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!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OP,

for a start, you're doing 1250m, not 1200. Unless the chlorine has addled by brain.

I swim 6 days a week usually, but I have less time. I do 10 lengths of a 50m pool, so 500m, in about 15 mins. I could go faster but I don't want to. I'd rather go further, which I could do, if time permitted.

I feel I get benefit from what I do, just working the muscles, stretching my back, it just feels good. Swimming has become, since I was about 8, a constant in my life. I swim when I'm happy, or sad, or feel great, or under the weather.

I'm not the fittest in the world, but I'm sure I'd be in a lot worse shape without the swimming.

[craigjm]

If I am just generally swimming without powering it I can do 60 lengths of a 25m pool (1 mile) in just under 30 minutes. If you want to get fit from swimming though you need to do sets of lengths in different strokes and different speeds. I do this in groups of 5 lengths at a time. you might also want have a look at using hand paddles and a pull bhoy to give you more of a workout. Worth looking at the Zoggs swim for fitness programme too, free to sign up online and download the session plans which will help you with the sets and varied workouts etc.

[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...

[madbadger]

Just to clarify - 64 (and a little bit) is a mile.

[z4chris99]

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

[craigjm]

madbadger said:

Just to clarify - 64 (and a little bit) is a mile.

true smart-ass but you would look a bit of a tt doing a little bit of a length

[madbadger]

craigjm said:

madbadger said:

Just to clarify - 64 (and a little bit) is a mile.

true smart-ass but you would look a bit of a tt doing a little bit of a length

It was more the 4 you are missing out rather than the little bit.

[BoRED S2upid]

I'd say 50 in 30 mins 100 in an hour isn't too bad for an amature its what I manage. Ok its not flat out struggling to drag yourself out of the water / being sick level but you don't need that for general fitness.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I like to convince myself that swimming in a 50m pool is better for me as I only get half as many turn arounds and kick offs the side!

[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!

[z4chris99]

mattnunn said:

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!

swap the fly for a choice,

be sick after the swim. not during

[Richieboy3008]

I can manage 1500m in just under 20mins. You'll get faster the more in practise.

[Smitters]

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.

[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

[MacGee]

doggie paddle for me...or scuba gear..