I’m working at a temporary job for the month of december. The hours are pretty rigid but I will get a 90 minute lunch every day. I will be working every single day except Christmas. There’s a pool 15 minute run away.
I figure I can change clothes, run to the pool, swim for 35 minutes, run back to work, shower and be back to work in just under 90 minutes.
Swimming is my weakness, but only because I don’t focus on it. I’m a 1:05 IM swimmer on 1 swim a week. I’ve swam under an hour on 4 days of swimming a week.
Will swimming 2-2.5 K a day help me much. I’m not worried about adding in more running or biking now. The only reason I’m running to/from the pool is to allow me to swim.
If I do t do this, I can’t swim, so while I know swimming a longer workout would be better, I dont care, because it’s not possible for me.
Will my plan pay off at all? Or should I just read a book during lunch and start training in January when my life returns to normal?
I’m working at a temporary job for the month of december. The hours are pretty rigid but I will get a 90 minute lunch every day. I will be working every single day except Christmas. There’s a pool 15 minute run away.
I figure I can change clothes, run to the pool, swim for 35 minutes, run back to work, shower and be back to work in just under 90 minutes.
Swimming is my weakness, but only because I don’t focus on it. I’m a 1:05 IM swimmer on 1 swim a week. I’ve swam under an hour on 4 days of swimming a week.
Will swimming 2-2.5 K a day help me much. I’m not worried about adding in more running or biking now. The only reason I’m running to/from the pool is to allow me to swim.
If I do t do this, I can’t swim, so while I know swimming a longer workout would be better, I dont care, because it’s not possible for me.
You can get a good workout in 35-45 min if you make it count,so no dicking around chatting at the end of the pool…Think about getting some swim bands for dry land training to supplement your swimming.You can use them at home and they don’t require that much time to make a difference…
Will my plan pay off at all? Or should I just read a book during lunch and start training in January when my life returns to normal?
… The only reason I’m running to/from the pool is to allow me to swim…
Why don’t you drive to the pool? Wouldn’t that give you 15-20 minutes extra for swimming?
Spending anytime in the pool is time well spent. Even with the month or so of doing this you will see benefits. Taking a month off is not ideal. Consistency is the key to triathlon. Swimming in December will likely set you up for a great swim in the following year because it will keep you base somewhat in tact and will even help you gain fitness. I’d spend your sessions; once a week endurance set, 2 speed sets, and 2 tempo style sets which will help build your swim muscles to get used to the strain of big swims in a short actual workout period. I would try for the speed sets to focus on 200s or shorter at max with short recoveries because it’s the off-season.
How? Please help…seriously! I have been stuck at 1:01-1:05 for years. I swim ~2.5-3km 2 times/week for 4 months a year and 4 times a week the rest of the year. Mainly by myself using the pace clock and a beeper for stroke rate and doing swim sets a coach set for me a couple of years ago.
Would it not be 15:00 each way, too? I’m assuming you’re not going balls out, so assuming you’re running 2mi or less, you’re looking at a <10min drive round trip + hr swim, or mediocre run + mediocre swim + mediocre run, that is, if driving is an option.
I’d mix it up if possible. Drive some days to get in a longer swim, run some days to do more of a multisport workout…
Driving isn’t an option because I won’t have a car available. My choice. But if I did it’s 5 min walk to parking, then parking at the pool isn’t easy, and pricey, then finding parking after the pool will be challenge and could easily result in a 10 minute walk.
It’s a 1.5 mile run. I’m allowing myself 15 minutes each way for traffic lights etc…
I’ll do the 2-2.5K a day (7 days a week) for all of December except Christmas. Which I’ll take off completely. I’ve got a good set of workouts and options for what to do when I’m swimming.
I’ll do a 1K tt a couple times and see how much time I can drop.
The 1k tt’s will likely help a lot. Race simulation workouts tend to really ramp up my training. Also 2.5 to 2k a week is still 14-17.5k a week, that’s a lot of swimming.
I’m a noob but I would suggest, based upon my limited swimming experience but much longer bike experience that you will need to do a couple of things.
Plan your noon hour out well, no slack time. Loosen up during your run so that you are fully ready to go and warmed up as soon as you hit the pool. Make sure you have your sets planned out well in advance. Go HARD - pull harder than you normally would. The equivalent of intervals in cycling - as I said I’m not a swimmer so I can’t tell you how best to do that but with limited time you want to stress and build up strength.
Think about it… You will be fresh every stroke you make… Think about your stroke, on all strokes. Don’t care if you make 1,5 or 2,5 - just swim with a long and smooth stroke.
Day 1: Drills + sprints (4x25 All Out, but still perfect stroke and POWERFULL)
Day 2: Drills + 5x100 as fast as possible with perfect stroke
Day 3: Drills + 1000 no break - with perfect stroke
Day 4: Drills + Drills
If you can go a 1:05 already and you only have an hour a day to swim, bag the drills and do interval training. Most of your swimming should be sets of either 100s or 200s with some longer swims thrown in but you don’t have to go long every workout. Get in, do the minimum warmup you need not to hurt yourself then swim your ass off for an hour. No drills, no kicking, no toys, as you don’t have time to goof around. Just swim. That’s what will make you faster.
