Soldato
Yes, did the first session 1-2pm and a hr or so in the SPA
Shiney, head and the beard was me
I had my orange Derby Tri Club swim cap on and was in the intermediate lane.
Starting swimming, any advice?
- Thread starter Scam
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I had my orange Derby Tri Club swim cap on and was in the intermediate lane.
Did my first half Ironman distance tri yesterday.
Water temp in the reservoir was 14C on the swim, a bit cooler than I'd like as it messed up my breathing for the first few hundred metres until I warmed up. Neoprene cap was very helpful.
The course was two 950m laps with a tiny Australian exit. Chip time for the swim was 41:38 which I'm pleased with as that is a PB and also I had to breast stroke a few times due to people getting in the way or punching/kicking me!
Great, and a fast swim. How long have you been training for the HM?
Soldato
Hard to say, technically I haven't stopped triathlon training since early 2015 but I didn't really ramp it up until I signed up for the full Ironman at the end of August 2015.
I finished the race in 04:59:00 which I can say, without a hint of modesty, is a damn good time for a first half Ironman.
It's exactly two months to Ironman Zurich so I really need to build up my swimming if I'm going to make it to 3800m!
Hard to say, technically I haven't stopped triathlon training since early 2015 but I didn't really ramp it up until I signed up for the full Ironman at the end of August 2015.
I finished the race in 04:59:00 which I can say, without a hint of modesty, is a damn good time for a first half Ironman.
It's exactly two months to Ironman Zurich so I really need to build up my swimming if I'm going to make it to 3800m!
Sub 5 for your first is extremely impressive.
How many hours a week are you training? That is my biggest issue looking at an IM. I currently peak at around 10 hours running and squeeze in a few hours of cross training some weeks. If I almost completely dropped running then 12-13horus a week over 1 year will get me to the finish time but I don't want to be doing a -14-15 hours sufferfest stressed about cutoff times.
Soldato
It varies and I don't follow any specific training plans. Here's a snapshot of my last 6 weeks. As you can see I really need to do more swimming!
I think you are maybe overestimating how much training you need to do? Ten hours a week of running alone seems like a lot to me! I'm aiming for a 12h Ironman which I don't think is unrealistic if I get the nutrition right on race day.
10 hours running is not much really. In peak weeks that is a a 3 hour long run of 20-22miles, leaving 7 hours of running over the other 6 days, a mere 70 minutes a day. Most day I run 60-90 minutes unless it is a special recovery run. And the good thing about running is there is no driving to the swimming pool or spending time getting to some safe roads for a long ride.
Of course for an IM I would cut the running right down but I would be adding a huge amount of extra time cycling.
I don;t really know anything about tri training and just looked at some plans online that suggested peaking at 16-20 hours a week.
Of course for an IM I would cut the running right down but I would be adding a huge amount of extra time cycling.
I don;t really know anything about tri training and just looked at some plans online that suggested peaking at 16-20 hours a week.
Soldato
It's a shame the Triathlon topic here is pretty dead but we should probably keep this thread on track with the swimming talk.
This weekend is looking reasonably warm so hopefully I'll be able to do some more open water swimming!
This weekend is looking reasonably warm so hopefully I'll be able to do some more open water swimming!
Do the virgin active sessions include any filming to show your problems / are the instructors the regular ones from the pools or better ? (debating on attending one that is 30 miles away)
I have previously been disappointed by the standard of local instructors at our pool and imhop finding a good swimmer to give advice can be more rewarding.
I have previously been disappointed by the standard of local instructors at our pool and imhop finding a good swimmer to give advice can be more rewarding.
Soldato
The Speedo coaches were excellent but they don't do any filming, no. They are not Virgin staff/coaches.
I would say it's well worth going, especially if you can stay for a second session, they told us you can go to as many as you like for free once you've signed up to the Speedo tour.
I would say it's well worth going, especially if you can stay for a second session, they told us you can go to as many as you like for free once you've signed up to the Speedo tour.
After makign a big improvement 2 weeks back I felt liie I started to loose the feel of thigns slightly by the end of last week. Saturday I did get my fastest ever 90x25yd swim in, 49:59 on the dot, a milestone that a few months ago I wondered if I would ever see. But it wasn't a real win, I substituted by 10 lap breaststroke for front crawl, and was also using some pool buoy and snorkel for a few laps to try and focus on the catch. I never really felt like I I was swimming well.
Since then it has been down hill, Monday it took nearly 54 minutes for the same 90 lengths, 63minutes today, and just no where near the confidence or speed. I don;t know what it is really. I started ignoring my stupid pace goals and trying to go slower concentrating on technique, but all that happens is I swim even slower but I'm still not
comfortable.
Not sure if I should just take a break for a while to clear my mind, but also muscles. I definitely feel sore when starting and I think that is part of the problem. With tired arms I subconscious change my stroke to minimum resistance through the water so it is easier to turnover, which of course is the complete opposite of what I should be doing.
I researched Masters swim classes at my local pool but the times find of suck. 6am is pretty brutal and a pain sorting kids out with the wife. Otherwise a 1pm slot when i have a daily meeting, 5pm when i pick up child from daycare. So might need to look for a private coach.
Since then it has been down hill, Monday it took nearly 54 minutes for the same 90 lengths, 63minutes today, and just no where near the confidence or speed. I don;t know what it is really. I started ignoring my stupid pace goals and trying to go slower concentrating on technique, but all that happens is I swim even slower but I'm still not
comfortable.
Not sure if I should just take a break for a while to clear my mind, but also muscles. I definitely feel sore when starting and I think that is part of the problem. With tired arms I subconscious change my stroke to minimum resistance through the water so it is easier to turnover, which of course is the complete opposite of what I should be doing.
I researched Masters swim classes at my local pool but the times find of suck. 6am is pretty brutal and a pain sorting kids out with the wife. Otherwise a 1pm slot when i have a daily meeting, 5pm when i pick up child from daycare. So might need to look for a private coach.
Soldato
Form will always go in peaks and troughs. I was depressed about my swimming fairly recently I was so bad/slow!
Do you mix it up at all? What about drills sessions where you don't worry about distance but work on technique with pull buoys, paddles, flippers and kickboard?
Do you mix it up at all? What about drills sessions where you don't worry about distance but work on technique with pull buoys, paddles, flippers and kickboard?
Soldato
The Speedo coaches on Sunday said that the worst mistake people make when swimming is just swimming up and down every session without doing proper drills regularly, if their aim is to see improvement. Something I realised I was doing before joining the tri club and I now see the difference doing drills has made. I'm not massively faster but have improved my technique so that I'm not as knackered by wasting energy. Still very much a novice in many ways but it has helped doing sessions with pull buoy, fins and kickboard etc.
Another open water swim tonight. Really pleased I managed 4 full laps of the marina without stopping. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1183945700
Another open water swim tonight. Really pleased I managed 4 full laps of the marina without stopping. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1183945700
I've been using buoys and a snorkel recently to work on technique.
Today I also started changing set lengths and did some 8 and 6 length sets so I wouldnt tire and could maintain better form.
Soldato
Soldato
We used those on Sunday at the Speedo sessions. Never used them before and quite liked it, much better than the bigger power paddles, they were brutal.
So after a bit of illness and a lot of laziness back in the pool, last time was 2 weeks ago.
My general aim in previous sessions has simply been to increase stint length, with my last session ending with 20 lengths (after several 12-length/400m stints), but I also entered the Swimtag 400m 'breaststroke beginners league' thing, so needed to do at least one 12 length stint to get a time for that
So, first thing, 12 lengths, felt pretty good and then after a short rest I made a conscious effort to not push too hard and not count lengths and just swim, did that and stopped mere seconds before they finished the session, total of 48-lengths.
My 12-length stint was a new PB it seems, 10:07 (previous was 10:48), so not bad. And total was 1998m in 55:57, only ~50s rest total between the 12 and 48 length stints. Pretty happy with that really, still slow but that'll come
My general aim in previous sessions has simply been to increase stint length, with my last session ending with 20 lengths (after several 12-length/400m stints), but I also entered the Swimtag 400m 'breaststroke beginners league' thing, so needed to do at least one 12 length stint to get a time for that
So, first thing, 12 lengths, felt pretty good and then after a short rest I made a conscious effort to not push too hard and not count lengths and just swim, did that and stopped mere seconds before they finished the session, total of 48-lengths.
My 12-length stint was a new PB it seems, 10:07 (previous was 10:48), so not bad. And total was 1998m in 55:57, only ~50s rest total between the 12 and 48 length stints. Pretty happy with that really, still slow but that'll come
So what si the advnatge of using such paddles?
I assume they increase the resistance which means you can swim faster but that doesn't seem particularly relevant because I can't use them in a triathlon.
I guess that will require greater strength to sue which can build strength which is good but I'm worried it might interfere with technique? I think one problem I have is when my arms get tired I no longer try for the catch and just let my arms slide through the after reducing resistance.
I'm more worried about technique than strength at this stage, are they still a good idea?
Soldato
I'd say they are for strength AND technique. They provide extra resistance to help strengthen your muscles and they help you get a better feel for your catch and hand position.
They are so cheap, it's worth trying them out.
Combine them with a pull buoy or fins and you can really isolate your stroke by removing the need for any kicking.
They are so cheap, it's worth trying them out.
Combine them with a pull buoy or fins and you can really isolate your stroke by removing the need for any kicking.
Soldato
Got back in the pool last night due to weather being too poor for the outdoor lido... I felt like a fish (relatively speaking)!
I guess all the open water wetsuit swimming I've done recently really helped my stroke and fitness. I might have a go at seeing how far I can swim with just jammers next time I visit.
I guess all the open water wetsuit swimming I've done recently really helped my stroke and fitness. I might have a go at seeing how far I can swim with just jammers next time I visit.
Soldato
Paddles absolutely kill your arms. I used to hate doing drills with them and the pull buoy. (I swam competitively from the age of 7 to around 14 - major shoulder/back injury kinda screwed me over).
They are great however. Like Shamrock said, you can really focus on technique with them.