I am not really sure what a picklehad is, but a while back Dan had an article about doing a swim intensive week and called it "be a picklehead".
So being a non swimmer, I have resolved to really focus on improving my swim for the upcoming season. So I actually got to the pool three times this week (not much but a lot for me) and did 7750 yrds, my most ever. I usually only swim about once a week, and had only done 96K for the whole season, before my three month layoff. The goal is to break 8K next week and 9K the week after. In the new year I will get on a 10K per week plan.
The good new is that I have only been swimming again for three weeks after 3 months with no swimming, but have been able to do as well as I was at any point during last season.
The bad news, well you can read my times below.
On Tuesday, I did 2900 yrds and did a 1000m time trial (1100 yrds). I split 8:45 for the first 500 yrds, 9:02 for the second 500 yrds and finished the 1100 yrds in 19:31. Based on most swimming assessments I have read that puts me as "speed skills impaired" as I swam over 19 minutes. I would have been very close to 19:00 minutes if I had kept up the pace, so partly I think I am lacking some swim endurance.
Easy swim on friday with a few drills.
Today 3000 yrds with a 10 x 100yrds on 1:45, finished in 17:25. I was swimming around 1:39 for most of the 100s. This was not too bad a workout, I often could not complete this during the season.
So the next step is to get some fins and really work on the kicking. I think this is a huge limiter for me. Need to keep reading the Doug Stern posts.
Anyone have any experience with making some big improvements, after spending several months doing over 10K per week? I would like to be able to get close to 60 minutes for an IM swim.
Anybody have any advice, other than do lots of drills.
Be a picklehead.
*********************
"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."
So being a non swimmer, I have resolved to really focus on improving my swim for the upcoming season. So I actually got to the pool three times this week (not much but a lot for me) and did 7750 yrds, my most ever. I usually only swim about once a week, and had only done 96K for the whole season, before my three month layoff. The goal is to break 8K next week and 9K the week after. In the new year I will get on a 10K per week plan.
The good new is that I have only been swimming again for three weeks after 3 months with no swimming, but have been able to do as well as I was at any point during last season.
The bad news, well you can read my times below.
On Tuesday, I did 2900 yrds and did a 1000m time trial (1100 yrds). I split 8:45 for the first 500 yrds, 9:02 for the second 500 yrds and finished the 1100 yrds in 19:31. Based on most swimming assessments I have read that puts me as "speed skills impaired" as I swam over 19 minutes. I would have been very close to 19:00 minutes if I had kept up the pace, so partly I think I am lacking some swim endurance.
Easy swim on friday with a few drills.
Today 3000 yrds with a 10 x 100yrds on 1:45, finished in 17:25. I was swimming around 1:39 for most of the 100s. This was not too bad a workout, I often could not complete this during the season.
So the next step is to get some fins and really work on the kicking. I think this is a huge limiter for me. Need to keep reading the Doug Stern posts.
Anyone have any experience with making some big improvements, after spending several months doing over 10K per week? I would like to be able to get close to 60 minutes for an IM swim.
Anybody have any advice, other than do lots of drills.
Be a picklehead.
*********************
"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."