Triathlon - tripled my swimming distance from 500 to 1500 meters

due to some scheduling changes at work and some gym closures I've spent more time in the pool and have tripled my distance from 500 to 1500 meters. so instead of spending 25 minutes in the pool, I'm going for 45. I still rest after each length but that's gonna be history soon. there were even about 10 round trips where I didn't stop. so +1 for spending more time in the pool!

I did the exact same thing by using the 0 to 1650 in 6 weeks. Using the drills they have in that program you won't be stopping at the wall anymore.
Good job on tripling your swim though. Feels good doesn't it?

it does feel good and the nice thing about swimming is - it doesn't make me sore like weight training, so I get the impression I can swim at lunch today and then get back in tonight after work.

good job, we typically mix up our routines in masters swim but typically they go like this for instance.
monday we did this

12 sets of 100 meters, the first 4 were FLY, BACK, BREAST, FREE. on 1:50
the next 4 were choice on 1:45
the last 4 were again FLY, BACK, BREAST, FREE. on 1:40 and all these with fins on.

then we did 4 sets of 200m pulls with pull buoys.

after that we did 10 50 meter sprints. free swim

basically we take about an hour to do this. i go to work right after this and feel great

Glad to hear everyone is making great progress in their swimming. I really need to get my butt back in the pool. No gym near my has one. I swam a ton in high school and since graduation, I let my swimming shape down. I need to find a pool! So I can get back into things like you guys.

wow, that's some routine. you must be in your twenties! :-)

I suck at swimming still, 1000m today in 30 min, didnt help Ive been out of the pool for 3 weeks due to illness.

I gotta get into some of these routines....

swam the first time today... im a biker/runner. waves, water in ears, and algae arent good encouragement.... but, i did do 3 sets of 100 (well, maybe cloer to 90?) gotta do 750 in a month...

Two main things I found that improves swimming quickest.

1. Frequency over distance, especially in the beginning - swimming is a technique / feel activity. Getting a feel for the water and working on holding good form is much better than swimming for longer and when tired then possibly using bad form thus re-enforcing bad motor patterning.

2. Intervals

got back in the pool last night - so that's twice in one day! psych! I'm also finally getting the hang of sharing a lane ... yeesh, 'bout time. I think I'm liking this new pool - this gym has lots of posers and not many in the pool area - some but they hang at the whirlpool - gross - that's clean and I like the whirlpool but not with those guys just hanging around it and sometimes soaking their feet. I miss the old Korean women at my old gym

I finally acheived some soreness but nothing important. my co-habitor thinks I have no fat left on my body - of course she is not correct

1000 meters in 30 min? I wish I sucked that badly

oh yeah, sucking down algae is not motivation - except for diarrhea

got back in the pool last night - so that's twice in one day! psych! I'm also finally getting the hang of sharing a lane ... yeesh, 'bout time. I think I'm liking this new pool - this gym has lots of posers and not many in the pool area - some but they hang at the whirlpool - gross - that's clean and I like the whirlpool but not with those guys just hanging around it and sometimes soaking their feet. I kiss the old Korean women at my old gym

I finally acheived some soreness but nothing important. my co-habitor thinks I have no fat left on my body - of course she is not correct

1000 meters in 30 min? I wish I sucked that badly

oh yeah, sucking down algae is not motivation - except for diarrhea

Yah but I have an olympic distance coming in 4 weeks and I'm way behind cause I kept getting sick... Plus Ive been swimming semi regularly for a year and a half, I am sure you will end up way faster than me in a few weeks...

wow, that's some routine. you must be in your twenties! :-)

thanks but actually im 36, and no formal swimming experience till about 5 months ago. i joined a masters swim group at our local ymca and i have dedicated 3 days a week to this routine. it litterally takes a minimum of about 4 or 5 months to get to a point just to do all the yardage, i am just now able to do all of it. i just did a full 3000 meters this morning, i feel i am finally getting there but it has been a long hard road but it is paying off and i feel the next 2 events i do it will show up as the swim distances are going to increase. i will be passing alot of people in the swim portion of the tri. my bike is pretty good too it is the run that kills me and it makes for half of the event so i need to really step up my running training this next few weeks and months to come. i highly reccomend looking into masters swim in your area.


these pics are of my first tri, i learned alot in regards to the swim and how i plan to avoid being bottlenecked in the first turn but as you can see i was ahead of many other guys coming out of the water. i was about the 18th one out of the water which wasn't too bad considering i litterally was log jammed for awhile in turn 1. my advise is go to the far outside and stay away from everyone then when you get to the next turn you should be spaced out enough to get closer to the buoy.

I need a nap just reading about it

GOOD JOB! Keep it up and I hope you don't injured! Stay safe!

After many months of off and on again swim training, I am finally and consistently doing 2000-3000yds per workout. It feels good to not have to stop after each length. As mentioned here, intervals help tremendously. Also, not worrying about speed and just focusing on form/balance is key. Once you find your balance in the water, it really takes the work out of it and you glide through the water rather than labor through it.

good luck in your efforts!

I used to get all sorts of different sets but now I'm 'self-coached' I try and keep it simple.

Twice a week at lunchtime I swim 2k straight (around 36 minutes). Gives me time to get changed and grab a bite on the way back to the office. Friday night 2k wetsuit swim - about 32 minutes. Sunday, 500m w/u, 10 x 50 sprint first 12.5m (10 sec rest after each), 100 kick, 10x50 sprint first 25m (15 sec rest after each), 100 kick, 10x50 sprint first 37.5m (20 sec rest), 100 kick, 10x50 sprint (25 sec rest), 100 kick. 5x200 paddles and buoy then 300 warm down. Total a bit over 4k.

I like it because it's easy to remember.

Was thinking about getting a "swim shirt" from Dick's Sporting Goods. I think it was neoprene but real thin. This is not the same as a rash guard. I found the swim shirt to be comfortable and wondered if it would supply a smidgen of buoyancy. I'm looking forward to the open water, even though the pool is so accessible.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? or have a "swim shirt"? They are kinda pricey so I'm holding off till they go on sale but I hope the one that fits doesn't sell first!

Very nice work! It feels great to be able to "swim for real" doesn't it?

Even though his teachings can be a bit controversial, check out Terry Laughlin's stuff on "Total Immersion swimming." It's a great resource for learning good swimming technique, especially for beginners. It won't really help you increase your aerobic capacity in the water, but you'll make a lot of practical gains through improving your technique.

swam the first time today... im a biker/runner. waves, water in ears, and algae arent good encouragement.... but, i did do 3 sets of 100 (well, maybe cloer to 90?) gotta do 750 in a month...

I wouldn't worry too much - I've been doing aquathlons to help get ready for a tri next summer, and I had never done open water swimming before in my life. Oh, and I wasn't acclimatized to the altitude here (still not, actually). I'm in anything but fantastic shape but I did finish 750m, and my time is down to 24:04 for my third time, last night. Nothing to be overly proud of, but I bet you'll make it fine. Knowing that it's a choice between drowning, getting towed to shore, and finishing is agreat motivator to keep pushing.