Distance swimming
Discussion
Did a 5 mile swim in Coniston summer before last... I'm no athlete. Tall but fat !
Training - I'm a pretty average swimmer. By the time of the swim I could swim nearly 3000m in the pool in an hour, but that was really pushing it. I could sprint quicker but that was my pace for an hour.
I gradually built up my swimming priot to the event to where i was doing about 15k a week before the big swim.
Getting the endurance was all about time in the pool. I also did a fair bit of youtubing to try and get my technique better. Developed a relaxed stroke, and what felt like an efficient pull through the water.
I did about ten swims in the local quarry, primarly to get used to swimming in a wetsuit (feels quite different with the bit of restriction around the shoulders, and the bouyncy... its also nice to be able to just keep swimming for a long time without turniing, or getting caught up with other people in the pool. The cold water was a bit of a shock to begin with but got used to it quite quickly.
Prior to the event I did a 5k in the pool and a 5k in the quarry without any specific nutrition..
The actual event was a real eye opener. Much murkier water than I'd swum in before, and a bit choppier... After the 1st mile I was ready for getting out. I went through a very dark half hour, where my brain was determined to make me give up. Somehow I got through it and got to the first feed boat at a mile and a half.. after some isotonic drinks and a gel, I perked up and cracked on with it. For the last couple miles my arms gave up and my pace went right down. Mile 4 was really hard, mile 5 easier with the end in sight... The mental side was tougher than the physical side to be honest. During the swim I had a 3 gel sachets, and a couple handfull of jelly babies... i never realised what an instant hit they can give when you are low on energy.
Toughest physical thing ive ever done, and mental..... Time in the water is the only real answer. Just keep plodding out lengths in the pool. I would suggest getting a couple lessons to get your stroke efficient otherwise you are just wasting energy.
Training - I'm a pretty average swimmer. By the time of the swim I could swim nearly 3000m in the pool in an hour, but that was really pushing it. I could sprint quicker but that was my pace for an hour.
I gradually built up my swimming priot to the event to where i was doing about 15k a week before the big swim.
Getting the endurance was all about time in the pool. I also did a fair bit of youtubing to try and get my technique better. Developed a relaxed stroke, and what felt like an efficient pull through the water.
I did about ten swims in the local quarry, primarly to get used to swimming in a wetsuit (feels quite different with the bit of restriction around the shoulders, and the bouyncy... its also nice to be able to just keep swimming for a long time without turniing, or getting caught up with other people in the pool. The cold water was a bit of a shock to begin with but got used to it quite quickly.
Prior to the event I did a 5k in the pool and a 5k in the quarry without any specific nutrition..
The actual event was a real eye opener. Much murkier water than I'd swum in before, and a bit choppier... After the 1st mile I was ready for getting out. I went through a very dark half hour, where my brain was determined to make me give up. Somehow I got through it and got to the first feed boat at a mile and a half.. after some isotonic drinks and a gel, I perked up and cracked on with it. For the last couple miles my arms gave up and my pace went right down. Mile 4 was really hard, mile 5 easier with the end in sight... The mental side was tougher than the physical side to be honest. During the swim I had a 3 gel sachets, and a couple handfull of jelly babies... i never realised what an instant hit they can give when you are low on energy.
Toughest physical thing ive ever done, and mental..... Time in the water is the only real answer. Just keep plodding out lengths in the pool. I would suggest getting a couple lessons to get your stroke efficient otherwise you are just wasting energy.
boyse7en said:
Thinking of signing up for a 5k charity swim, which takes place in April.
I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
As long as you can swim for about an hour, you shouldn't have any problem, or need any food or drink. I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
I did a 3.9 k swim as part of a triathlon and it was a bit mad with people swimming all over each other at the start.
Is it a openwater course? The stuff to work on is being able to keep straight and spot where you're going.
I'll watch with interest your progress!
I've signed up to do a sprint triathlon (750m swim) difference is, I can swim, but only in the sense I move forward without drowning!
I did my 5th swim yesterday (wednesday lunchtimes) of 800m and that was the furthest I'd managed in one go without stopping and took me 16:59, but I was hanging out the back of my proverbial!
Swimming is a ridiculous sport, exercising without oxygen!
To put it in some sort of perspective, my 10 year old son did an 800m open water swim last year in 14 mins and he stayed at the back to keep out of trouble!
Amazing what you learn though, watching him swim for 11 hours a week, in my mind, i'm gliding like a fish, the reality is I have anchors for legs and as much flexibility as a glass rod.
Good luck with your attempt though, 5km is a LONG way
I've signed up to do a sprint triathlon (750m swim) difference is, I can swim, but only in the sense I move forward without drowning!
I did my 5th swim yesterday (wednesday lunchtimes) of 800m and that was the furthest I'd managed in one go without stopping and took me 16:59, but I was hanging out the back of my proverbial!
Swimming is a ridiculous sport, exercising without oxygen!
To put it in some sort of perspective, my 10 year old son did an 800m open water swim last year in 14 mins and he stayed at the back to keep out of trouble!
Amazing what you learn though, watching him swim for 11 hours a week, in my mind, i'm gliding like a fish, the reality is I have anchors for legs and as much flexibility as a glass rod.
Good luck with your attempt though, 5km is a LONG way
I've been swimming for a while (had to give up running) and have built up to doing 2500m once a week. That takes me about 52-54 mins, so I estimate that 5k will take me about 2 hours if it goes well, probably closer to 2:15 in reality
It will be in the pool not open water, so on the plus side it won't be too choppy, on the negative side I'll have to turn 200 times!
I don't think my technique is that great to be honest. I can only do 1000m in just under 20 mins flat out. I'll have to look into a lesson/coach, the pool has loads of kids swimming lessons and runs a competitive club but I'm nowhere near good enough to join that.
It will be in the pool not open water, so on the plus side it won't be too choppy, on the negative side I'll have to turn 200 times!
I don't think my technique is that great to be honest. I can only do 1000m in just under 20 mins flat out. I'll have to look into a lesson/coach, the pool has loads of kids swimming lessons and runs a competitive club but I'm nowhere near good enough to join that.
boyse7en said:
I've been swimming for a while (had to give up running) and have built up to doing 2500m once a week. That takes me about 52-54 mins, so I estimate that 5k will take me about 2 hours if it goes well, probably closer to 2:15 in reality
It will be in the pool not open water, so on the plus side it won't be too choppy, on the negative side I'll have to turn 200 times!
I don't think my technique is that great to be honest. I can only do 1000m in just under 20 mins flat out. I'll have to look into a lesson/coach, the pool has loads of kids swimming lessons and runs a competitive club but I'm nowhere near good enough to join that.
Good that you're doing this in a pool I think. Less variables to contend with (i.e. no cold water, poor visibility etc) so you can just focus on the swimming bit. With the turns as well, opportunity for a bit of a breather...continuous swimming is more tiring. It will be in the pool not open water, so on the plus side it won't be too choppy, on the negative side I'll have to turn 200 times!
I don't think my technique is that great to be honest. I can only do 1000m in just under 20 mins flat out. I'll have to look into a lesson/coach, the pool has loads of kids swimming lessons and runs a competitive club but I'm nowhere near good enough to join that.
Would definitely recommend having someone proficient help you with stroke work. At the best of times swimming is properly in-efficient vs running when it comes to energy use to move forward, so even a few % improvement makes a big difference. In short though you want your head down either looking directly down or slightly forward. Hips up. Pull with a high, bent elbow and recover with a high elbow also. 2-beat kick (don't want to kick much really, on distance they should be trailing, just doing enough to stay afloat and not sinking, smaller muscles in the shoulders should be doing most of the work) and plenty of breathing (i.e. breathe every 2 or 3 strokes.)
boyse7en said:
Thinking of signing up for a 5k charity swim, which takes place in April.
I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
Is that the Swimathon for Marie Curie? If so, I'm doing it as well. I did it last year and just had a jacket potato a couple of hours before the swim and took a bottle of squash for the poolside. I drank little and often, approximately every 10 lengths I stopped and took a few sips. 5km is 200 lengths of a 25m pool so quite intense, definitely have some carbs before you do it.I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
I was starving when I came out so stopped at Maccy's on the way home and devoured a Big Tasty meal! Swimming always makes me hungry!
If you look on the Swimathon website there are training plans on there: https://swimathon.org/training-plans
I'm a regular swimmer (used to be competitive when I was younger) and I swim a mile several times a week. In the run up to the Swimathon I gradually increase my distance and by the time it's getting close to the event my morning swims are around 140 lengths. I don't bother with the training plans on the website but they are there if you want them or need some motivation to stick to training.
Good luck! I do several charity swims every year but the Swimathon is by far the biggest and most enjoyable one. Last years time was 1hr 44mins.
Edited by bluelightbabe on Wednesday 22 February 12:41
bluelightbabe said:
boyse7en said:
Thinking of signing up for a 5k charity swim, which takes place in April.
I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
Is that the Swimathon for Marie Curie? If so, I'm doing it as well. I did it last year and just had a jacket potato a couple of hours before the swim and took a bottle of squash for the poolside. I drank little and often, approximately every 10 lengths I stopped and took a few sips. 5km is 200 lengths of a 25m pool so quite intense, definitely have some carbs before you do it.I'm a regular, but not trained, swimmer.
Any advice, tips or general help regarding training?
Would i need to eat and/or drink during the swim?
I was starving when I came out so stopped at Maccy's on the way home and devoured a Big Tasty meal! Swimming always makes me hungry!
If you look on the Swimathon website there are training plans on there: https://swimathon.org/training-plans
I'm a regular swimmer (used to be competitive when I was younger) and I swim a mile several times a week. In the run up to the Swimathon I gradually increase my distance and by the time it's getting close to the event my morning swims are around 140 lengths. I don't bother with the training plans on the website but they are there if you want them or need some motivation to stick to training.
Good luck! I do several charity swims every year but the Swimathon is by far the biggest and most enjoyable one. Last years time was 1hr 44mins.
Edited by bluelightbabe on Wednesday 22 February 12:41
He raised a lot of money for Gt Ormond St in the process..
Swimmers amaze me!
Still ticking along on my 2 min 100s!
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff