Thanks for asking this question....I have exactly the same problem. I love to open water swim though, but lap swimming I absolutley hate. I don't have a swimming back ground, but picked it up a few ago when I started do tri's.

Tim

If you show up at the pool with a set "workout," it can really help, instead of swimming straight laps.

you can do drills, speedwork, etc.

For example, instead of swimming 2000 straight yards you can swim:

400 y warmup
8x50 of different drills (depending on what you need to work on)
10x100 with 15 seconds rest btw (this you would do pretty fast)
200 cooldown

Same distance, but some of it focuses on technique, some of it (the 100s) focus on speed, and it helps the time go faster because you have something to focus on.

I figure there has to be something possible with food dyes...

Actually, I find it pretty dull myself and just try to concentrate on the the set I'm doing. I assume you swim sets? Like, 8 sets of 100yds? Of course, then you have the challenge of counting how many you've done!

I second what jcrew says. You should break your workout into intervals. Do 50's, 100's, 200's, etc. with anywhere between 5-1:00 rest between depending on lenght and intensity. You also need to work some drilling in to your workouts, preferably at the beginning after a good warmup. Contact me if you'd like some suggestions.

Mike

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As the others have said, doing a set workout is definitely more interesting unless you are doing a continuous swim for time or distance or tempo.

Another suggestion if you are still early in your swimming career is to join a masters group so you can get feedback. You will need it and improve much faster with someone to criticize your stroke.

Ocasionally when I swim alone, I include in my workout sets of 100-200m focusing on one aspect/weakness. I go really really slow so I make sure the execution is as perfect as I can make it. Then I focus on another aspect. Definitely makes you think about what you're doing and takes away the boredom.

I don't know that I'd swim with music in my ears... especially if I'm doing drills and stuff, my technique isn't yet where I want it to be that I want to not focus on it every stroke I take... I think it's a little different from running and requires more focus on technique so unless you are technically flawless, I'd focus on your stroke...

quote:<HR>Originally posted by biketm:
Will a workout like you describe still give a person the endurance they need, like a 1.2 mile in a 1/2 IM?

<HR>

I think so...I'm no swimming coach, and that was just off the top of my head...my workouts training for my HIM for usually more than 2000 meters-- up to 3300 or so, but I almost never swam a continuous set, and I had what I felt was a great 1.2 mile swim. When I did do continuous swimming, it was a maximum of 1000 meters time trial to check progress on speed.

The important thing, I think, is to not stand around chatting with your lane-mates at the end of the pool. Finish one set, start another. (Resting the amount of time you've set aside in your workout between each. My rests were usually short. 15 seconds or so).

On the other hand, endurance is something I have lots of. Speed is what I'm lacking.

Edited to add: Actually, my coach had me to 15 - 20 x100 on several occasions on 2:00. Those nearly killed me and by the end I had very little rest between 100s. Good endurance builder.



http://This message has been edited by teacherjen05 (edited Aug-30-2007).