Ironman 2018 - PE

[mon-goose]

my first open water swim was terrible to put it mildly. It was my first open water swim and first swim with a wetsuit. The dam water was pretty choppy and I'd never swum in a group. I got 25m out maybe and I thought I was going to drown. Managed to do some doggy paddling and ended up getting to the 250m buoy. The life guards were so busy with other people they couldn't fetch me. So I had to doggy paddle back. Was the worst ever

[HDW]

I've been looking to up my swimming a bit, but I struggle to find something decent wrt a "training plan"of sorts. I swim about 1200m - 1500m per day, 4 times a week, and can manage to do that without resting. Average time on 1500m with no stopping is about 22 - 25 mins, and have been swimming for about 7 weeks now (never swam a single lap before in my life - honestly didn't think I could do it).

 

My question is - should I just keep doing what I'm doing, and up my distance do about 2000m per swim, 4x a week? Or is there a better way to approach my training? I don't use paddles or kick boards or fins, but I do focus on bettering my technique during my swims.

[_David_]

I read on social media that there are less than 50 entries left.

 

[mon-goose]

I've been looking to up my swimming a bit, but I struggle to find something decent wrt a "training plan"of sorts. I swim about 1200m - 1500m per day, 4 times a week, and can manage to do that without resting. Average time on 1500m with no stopping is about 22 - 25 mins, and have been swimming for about 7 weeks now (never swam a single lap before in my life - honestly didn't think I could do it).

 

My question is - should I just keep doing what I'm doing, and up my distance do about 2000m per swim, 4x a week? Or is there a better way to approach my training? I don't use paddles or kick boards or fins, but I do focus on bettering my technique during my swims.

22min for 1500 is pretty decent times. I'd looking to upping my distance per session even if I reduced the number of sessions. I don't follow any particular training plans. Have a look at http://marathonswimmers.org/forum/discussion/9/the-lunchtime-set-thread#latest for suggestions of training sets. There are lots of other ideas on that forum.

[EmJayZA]

I read on social media that there are less than 50 entries left.

 

How many athletes in total with the 50 open entries? 

 

Feeling FOMO. 

[clivem]

Jeesh, based on what I've trained and swum in the 70.3 and full IM you are better equipped in the water than most.  Well done.  From personal experience I'd try get some open water swims in (with the wetsuit),.

I've been looking to up my swimming a bit, but I struggle to find something decent wrt a "training plan"of sorts. I swim about 1200m - 1500m per day, 4 times a week, and can manage to do that without resting. Average time on 1500m with no stopping is about 22 - 25 mins, and have been swimming for about 7 weeks now (never swam a single lap before in my life - honestly didn't think I could do it).

 

My question is - should I just keep doing what I'm doing, and up my distance do about 2000m per swim, 4x a week? Or is there a better way to approach my training? I don't use paddles or kick boards or fins, but I do focus on bettering my technique during my swims.

[Chris_]

I've been looking to up my swimming a bit, but I struggle to find something decent wrt a "training plan"of sorts. I swim about 1200m - 1500m per day, 4 times a week, and can manage to do that without resting. Average time on 1500m with no stopping is about 22 - 25 mins, and have been swimming for about 7 weeks now (never swam a single lap before in my life - honestly didn't think I could do it).

 

My question is - should I just keep doing what I'm doing, and up my distance do about 2000m per swim, 4x a week? Or is there a better way to approach my training? I don't use paddles or kick boards or fins, but I do focus on bettering my technique during my swims.

 

Doesn't sound like you need any help there friend...

 

Keep doing what you're doing.

[HDW]

22min for 1500 is pretty decent times. I'd looking to upping my distance per session even if I reduced the number of sessions. I don't follow any particular training plans. Have a look at http://marathonswimmers.org/forum/discussion/9/the-lunchtime-set-thread#latest for suggestions of training sets. There are lots of other ideas on that forum.

Great, thank you very much! The workouts on your link was exactly what I was looking for, gonna give them a try.

[ScottCM]

How many athletes in total with the 50 open entries? 

 

Feeling FOMO. 

 

 

Push the button!!!!!! 

You know you want to   

[mon-goose]

agreed, try get some open water training in now and you should be fine. Have you done any ows yet? There's a few suggestions in the CT area.

 

ATC https://www.atcmultisport.club/ swim in the water front canals weekly and it's a good intro to cold open water. You can swim as far as you want and get out when you want. The water is calm but cold and gives you the experience of not having the walls to push off

 

Then there's the https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=184351634887&ref=br_rs group that are really well organised with their events

 

Then every sunday there's a group that swims at camps bay in the morning.

 

And multiple groups that meet at big bay and small bay. Get in contact with bigbayevents

[Jakopregop]

I've been looking to up my swimming a bit, but I struggle to find something decent wrt a "training plan"of sorts. I swim about 1200m - 1500m per day, 4 times a week, and can manage to do that without resting. Average time on 1500m with no stopping is about 22 - 25 mins, and have been swimming for about 7 weeks now (never swam a single lap before in my life - honestly didn't think I could do it).

 

My question is - should I just keep doing what I'm doing, and up my distance do about 2000m per swim, 4x a week? Or is there a better way to approach my training? I don't use paddles or kick boards or fins, but I do focus on bettering my technique during my swims.

 

That is an excellent pace! So Jealous...

 

I also agree that you could decrease to 2 or 3 x 2500m per week. I am a firm believer that LOTS of swimming will only make you fitter and a little faster. Rather save the hours of training for the bike and run.

 

Keep each swim under an hour...in that way I generally only do 2500m per set. More than enough for me.

[HDW]

Jeesh, based on what I've trained and swum in the 70.3 and full IM you are better equipped in the water than most.  Well done.  From personal experience I'd try get some open water swims in (with the wetsuit),.

Great, thanks. I am yet to do an open water swim, but I plan on joining some people who swims once a month from Clifton for a 600 or 800m or something. 

 

Thanks for building up my confidence - I must admit I am quite scared of not being able to swim a full 3.8 km, but I guess the more I swim the easier it will get.

[HDW]

agreed, try get some open water training in now and you should be fine. Have you done any ows yet? There's a few suggestions in the CT area.

 

ATC https://www.atcmultisport.club/ swim in the water front canals weekly and it's a good intro to cold open water. You can swim as far as you want and get out when you want. The water is calm but cold and gives you the experience of not having the walls to push off

 

Then there's the https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=184351634887&ref=br_rs group that are really well organised with their events

 

Then every sunday there's a group that swims at camps bay in the morning.

 

And multiple groups that meet at big bay and small bay. Get in contact with bigbayevents

This is amazing, thanks!

[mon-goose]

Great, thanks. I am yet to do an open water swim, but I plan on joining some people who swims once a month from Clifton for a 600 or 800m or something. 

 

Thanks for building up my confidence - I must admit I am quite scared of not being able to swim a full 3.8 km, but I guess the more I swim the easier it will get.

search for 1som and 3som on facebook or online. Or contact warren on (polarbear.fialkov96@gmail.com) He's really cool and organises the swims you're talking about

[HDW]

That is an excellent pace! So Jealous...

 

I also agree that you could decrease to 2 or 3 x 2500m per week. I am a firm believer that LOTS of swimming will only make you fitter and a little faster. Rather save the hours of training for the bike and run.

 

Keep each swim under an hour...in that way I generally only do 2500m per set. More than enough for me.

Thanks for the advice - will restructure my training a bit. I am lucky in that I can go swim at the gym almost every day during lunch time (60 -70 mins, doesn't really matter), so will look at upping one session a week to 2000m + for now, and eventually try and get in 3 longer swims of around 2500m. Will maybe then add in another short session or two, purely for technique.

[shaper]

How many athletes in total with the 50 open entries? 

 

Feeling FOMO. 

Think it is 2500 from memory