Swimming Endurance
One of major activities I have been doing since the last 12 months is Swimming. Building endurance while swimming has been a major training goal for me i.e. I consciously did not want to be a fast swimmer but a swimmer who could regulate heart rate and breathing effortlessly to do long sessions.
5 km swim session
After a 4 km swim on 2nd April 2023, I decided to do 5 km on Sunday - 9th April 2023. Sundays work better than Saturdays as Mondays are rest day for me as well as scheduled maintenance of the Swimming pool.
Swimming and heart rate
Swimming is a great form of cardiovascular exercise that helps improve heart health. Swimming is also a low-impact exercise, making it a great option with low chances of joint pain or injuries.
Stats of heart rate modulation during the session:
- I spent 55% of the time in Anaerobic heart rate zone which leads to increased cardiovascular and respiratory capacity in the long run.
- I spend 20% of the time in Aerobic heart rate zone which is also desirable.
Stats of my first 5 km swim:
- Time: 2 hours and 41 seconds
- Distance: 5 km
- Average SWOLF: 37
Breaking down the stats:
- I am satisfied with the average speed and pace
- I am happy with the average SWOLF
- I am happy with the heart rate modulation over the duration of the entire swim
Swimming to Running Ratio
I am not a runner (yet) but suggested comparisons of How Much Swimming is Equivalent to Running? call out a generic 4:1 golden ration for running:swimming.
i.e. 5 km swimming = 20 km running
Swimming is an activity that brings me great joy and fulfillment. As I look to the future, I hope to continue swimming as a regular part of my life. Not only does it provide a great workout for my body, but it also helps me to clear my mind and reduce stress.