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I posted this question as a comment in an earlier thread (about adding swimming to the workout routine), but it seems like people won't see that comment due to inactivity so I thought I'd repost it as its own thread:

I am very comfortable in the water but not a FAST swimmer by any means. It takes me about 54 minutes to swim a mile. My thought was that maybe I should just swim for an hour a day, letting the distance increase gradually as my proficiency increases. But is that doing more harm than good? Is it better to just swim a mile - even if it only takes half an hour - and call it good?

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Hi Hut, It really depends on lots of factors: ability, speed, rest, etc....If it's taking you that long to swim a mile your stroke needs some work. Think of it as the foundation of the house: a strong straight foundation will support everything about the house. A poor foundation will affect how the doors and windows open & close.

I suggest you work on your technique first. Swimming with poor technique is inefficient. Every inefficient stroke you take will reinforce the bad habits. Correct your technique and you will not only be faster you will feel better. There are a couple ways you can do this: 1. buy the book "total Immersion" and work on the skills yourself. TI also has camps. 2. Get a coach & 3.go to a camp: T.I. has camps, Crossfit endurance has camps.

Before doing CrossFit and going paleo I was swimming 3-3500M (2 miles) in just over an hour depending on the sets. Now I'm following the CrossFit endurance program and swimming less than 1/2 that but with far greater intensity. The results are awesome: I'm faster at all the distances and enjoy swimming more than ever.

Swimming is not only great exercise and tremendously enjoyable it's also a skill that might just save your life! Good luck!!

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Thanks for your suggestions. I agree that my technique needs work, for sure. I will look into the Total Immersion stuff! I have always loved swimming - but as I said, I am not fast at all. So it sounds like your answer to my original question is "a mile's better than two miles, as long as you're doing it with high intensity and good technique". Yes? – a hut full of spears May 18 2011 at 20:51
Or would you say I should start with a half-mile and just really get the stroke down? – a hut full of spears May 20 2011 at 16:03
The T.I. people say don't take another stroke with bad form. That means if you can only swim 1/4 mile start there. Once you get the proper technique down you can add yardage or time. – water-ratt Jun 9 2011 at 1:40

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