The Masters Swimming Thread!

[Wahine]

Hey Kimmy, thanks for posting that workout. I am sooooooooo going to try it over xmas.

[kelownagirl]

So what kind of swim workout would an absolute beginner expect to do? I'm figuring on just swimming laps and work on form and not try to do any other crazy stuff. How many laps can I expect to do in one session without getting completely exhausted? I know - I just need to go and see, right?

[Kimmyt]

Wahine, glad I could share the pain... erm, help you out...

Kelownagirl, I guess it all depends on how much experience you have as a beginner swimmer? I would say that to start off you'd do some sets of stroke, then kicking on a board, then pulling with a buoy. I think that really helps get technique down. Swimming laps non-stop takes alot, so if maybe you can try doing a longer set and then doing repeats with rest that would probably help.

For example, you could do a 100 swim (4 laps) and see how you feel. If thats hard then try and do maybe a 50 of kicking using a board, and then a 50 using a pull buoy. You could finish with another 100. Or, if that 100 was not so hard, then you can do 100 swim, 100 kick, 100 pull to warm up, then try and do a 400 swim. Then you could do a cooldown of some kicking on a board or pulling or even backstroke or breaststroke to get your heart rate down.

Hope this helps, there may be more info on beginner swim workouts on beginnertriathlete.com

K.

[kelownagirl]

Thanks Kimmyt, I didn't think about BT. I'll take a look there as well. I can't wait to get into the pool and see how many laps I can do.

[HillSlugger]

So what kind of swim workout would an absolute beginner expect to do? I'm figuring on just swimming laps and work on form and not try to do any other crazy stuff. How many laps can I expect to do in one session without getting completely exhausted? I know - I just need to go and see, right?

I've had good success with a training plan called "0-1650 in 6 weeks"

Week 1 (x 3 days): (700m)
100m x 4 (12 breath rest)
50m x 4 (8 breath rest)
25m x 4 (4 breath rest)

Week 2 (x 3 days): (900m)
200m (12 breath rest)
100m x 4 (10 breath rest)
50m x 4 (6 breath rest)
25m x 4 (4 breath rest)

Week 3 (x 3 days): (1250m)
400m (12 breath rest)
100m x 4 (8 breath rest)
50m x 6 (4 breath rest)
25m x 6 (4 breath rest)

Week 4 (x 3 days): (1500m)
600m (10 breath rest)
300m (8 breath rest)
100m x 4 (6 breath rest)
50m x 4 (4 breath rest)

Week 5 (x 3 days): (1600m)
1000m (8 breath rest)
100m x 4 (4 breath rest)
50m x 4 (4 breath rest)

Week 6 (x 2 days): (1650m)
1200m (6 breath rest)
200m (4 breath rest)
100m (4 breath rest)
50m x 3 (4 breath rest)

Week 6 (day 3):
1650m straight!

You can mix these in less than 3 times a week along with other drills.