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.
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.