For me, yeah, pretty much. The only pool in town is a 30-minute drive away and open lap time ends at 4:00 PM, so it’s not feasible for me to go on weekdays. Lap time on weekends are 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, so that’s really the only swim time I get. There’s a gym in town with an endless pool I can use on weekdays, but it’s expensive enough I only do that during race season for specific races (and endless pools are kind of miserable).
Me too - 5 / 75 / 20
Dev, I am in your same 60-64 AG. These days I don’t generally record/upload/track every workout but would estimate it as close to 20% swim, 50% bike and 30% run as it has been for many years. I really do enjoy all 3 sports equally. Volumes will change throughout the year but the ratios remain somewhat consistent.
Your post made me check on the progress of a new 8-lane 25m competition pool being built just 5km from my house. Surprisingly they are actually ahead of schedule and now due to open later this year (originally scheduled for 2028!) Here’s a screen capture from their Webcam in the new facility:
My current indoor pool is 22 kms away - I dont actually mind the drive, it’s a beautiful facility and lane times generally work well with my schedule. And for mid-June to Labour Day, I have an outdoor pool around 8km away. Lane swims at the outdoor pool are “width-wise” at around 22m wide so it really helps to set fast summer splits!
It’s definitely a bonus to have several local options available especially when they close for meets or maintenance.
@Kid
For me, not really. Last year, I didn’t swim much because I had an angry shoulder that bothered me much of the year. I only started swimming when I signed up for IM Jax. And then I eased into swimming in the last quarter of the year.
Pool access isn’t an issue for me and hasn’t been the last three years or so. I’ve got a pretty sweet deal when it comes to our local pool, one that would make most people quite envious. Our community has a junior college and we’ve got a 25 yard, six lane pool. Three years ago, I became the lifeguard for the pool (I was already on staff part-time; it’s a long story). So I have a key and, theoretically, access to the pool 24/7. I’m also at the pool Monday through Thursday for lap swim. Part of the arrangement I made with athletic folks was that I would lifeguard if they let me use the pool within reason. And the pool is about five miles from my house. I don’t swim when the swimmers are in. I will get there early and swim or, and this is the most likely scenario, I swim after everyone leaves. So I pretty much have the pool to myself. I also get paid to watch the pool (like $10/hour but the access is priceless). It’s a win-win all around. Now, the question is, why don’t I swim more? In the case of this IM, my training time is quite limited. I basically work two full time jobs. When I have a window to train, I use it mainly for running and riding. There are also times that I have other morning meetings and appointments that will keep me out of the water (that was the case two weeks ago – every morning was slammed from the time lap swim closed until noon).
There are times that I swim more and really get the most out of the opportunity. But with this IM, I trying to get as much running and cycling in as possible. A river swim with a very fast current? I like my chances in that kind of venue.
But yes, I have a very sweet deal with our pool. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last. I don’t abuse it at all. I don’t make social media posts about swimming or being able to get in the pool. I just do my workouts and don’t tell anyone.
Sometimes I go in on the weekends. My excuse is that I’m checking out the pool for the upcoming week – temperature, etc. And that’s not a complete fabrication – I have gone up there on the weekends and found problems that caused lap swim to be canceled for a day or two. But mainly it’s so I can swim in the weekends. LOL.
You’d think with that kind of access, I’d be a great swimmer. Not surprisingly, I’m not. I usually have a pretty good swim split compared to my AG in local or regional events. But I’m never going to have the fastest swim. I do OK for a 53-year-old AG’er who started swimming as a adult.
RP
This is a bit interesting because I have really never looked at this before. Age 66 - current performance is close to optimal and FOP.
Swim - 18.2%
Bike - 40.3%
Run - 39.5%