Marcell_S wrote:
I've noticed something recently. I have got a little faster, this is a big deal as I have been Mr Plateau and Mr one-speed for a long while. I had a new coach who was prescribing 50s etc. in order to change this but it made little difference.
I was swimming every day, so 7 days a week, occasional day off, sometimes twice in one day. But every session I felt the same.
Recently I cut my swimming right back, mostly due to other commitments. Now I am in the pool 3-5 times a week, 1 open water swim, weekends off swimming. Finally I have noticed some gains! I am hitting those sessions fresher, able to hold form better, able to get my forearm in particular into the right position and apply more backwards force. I am swimming quicker.
I had previously thought that as my weakest discipline and plenty of time on my hands I should be swimming all the time, I knew I was tired in sessions but I thought at some point my body would catch up and I'd suddenly start feeling stronger, it never happened.
I know there will be many that say that I should be swimming easy sessions, but for a weaker swimmer this isn't always possible, swimming is always taxing for me, it just changes speed based on how tired I am!
So, rather like the HIIT approach to cycling, cutting the miles/sessions and hitting a few select sessions hard, maybe the same approach is better for us weaker swimmers until we have built up the ability etc. to cope with the mileage.
Just my 2 pennies worth.
Your coach was prescribing 7 days a week with some 2 a dayers with an occasional day off? Of course you were tired. Good grief I'm a swim only guy and I'm 5-6 days a week at max. Typically a 6 day week will always be followed by a 5 day week. 3 hours of dry land every week too, but it's all I can take and recover. Zero bike/run training.
Was this coach aware you were also bike/run training? How long were these workouts he was giving you/total weekly yardage? Or were they shorter/technical in nature? The elite club kids do 10 swims a week with 3 dry land sessions and that is only during the summer. These kids do nothing but swim, no other sports. These are kids who are heading to major D1 programs like the University of Florida for instance.
Don't get me wrong I applaud you for your efforts you are willing to do the things 99 out of 100 triathletes won't. I think you found your answer, back off a bit that is an awful lot of swim work for a person with 2 other sports to maintain. When you say 'weaker' swimmer though I don't equate what you do with weaker swimmers. If the average triathlete I hear opining at the pool as to why they can't faster they can't say they are even putting in enough time and work to maintain fitness that was earned. I will never understand the swimmer who frets over why they don't get faster with 2 swims and 5k a week. Keep working at it sounds like you are seeing progress good luck! If your coach is astute he will have identified what YOU need to work on and prescribe accordingly.