How to swim faster doesn’t have to be complicated. For Masters swimmers, age-group competitive swimmers, and triathletes, though, it can be expensive, especially as commuting to and from the pool, swim coaching, club membership fees, and gear continue to increase.
The total cost is even greater when you consider adding your valuable time to those out-of-pocket expenses. So athletes (and parents) must make spending decisions and choices to produce “the most juice for the squeeze”! Enter swim training at home!
The total time and financial commitment for swimmers & triathletes will vary, and it’s based on a number of factors. So it’s useful to analyze costs versus benefits when evaluating how and where to do your swim training most effectively. Costs include:
- Swim gear (suits, goggles, caps, wetsuits, fins, etc.)
- Access to a pool (distance, pool fees)
- Fuel and time spent commuting to & from the pool or open water
- Coaching fees and team membership dues
- Travel expenses & entry fees for competitions
- Entry fees, travel, food & lodging for competitions
Time is Money! Let’s value your precious time…
For example, if you spend 1 hour commuting to swim just 3 times per week for 52 weeks, that adds up to 156 hours (6 ½ days) per year in transit to & from swimming (not including the actual workout time in the water)! While these figures vary depending on each person, add up your numbers to reveal how much time and money your swim training may cost you.
The Many Benefits of Swim Training at Home
How “Swim at Home” Saves Money & Time
Swim training at home is time-efficient. You can get frequent, high-quality swim-specific workouts without needing to budget for additional time or travel fees.
Plus, it’s a one-time purchase that pays dividends for years to come, i.e. fewer pool fees and less wear & tear on suits, goggles, & other gear.
How much can you save per year?
Using our Vasa Cost Calculator, (example below), here’s how using a Vasa SwimErg or Vasa Trainer at home compares to only doing swim training at a pool or club.
How “swim at home” training will save you money:
- Access to frequent training (more time at the pool = higher costs)
- Reduced travel time to the pool (fewer miles driven = lower fuel cost)
- Less or no fees for pool or club membership
Saving Valuable Time
What’s your time worth?
The average athlete who travels at least 30 minutes round-trip (150 sessions per year) and spends roughly an hour at the pool would save about 120 hours per year, not to mention the time spent changing before and after swimming.
Of course, this doesn’t include other added benefits, such as maintaining consistency, which will improve your strength, power, stamina, and swimming technique. Consistency typically increases confidence. Completing planned workouts will motivate you, especially when you make gains & improvements. When it comes to costs versus benefits, the value is clear.
Athlete Profile: Cortney Martin
How she leveraged “swim-at-home” to save time & money
Accomplished age-group triathlete Cortney Martin needed to fit training for “three sports,” plus strength & mobility exercises, into her days while juggling the needs of “two kids, one spouse, a dog, two cats, and a job.”
She estimated her morning Masters swim team practice to be about 1 hour and 45 minutes. For every swim at the pool session, she had an exhaustive to-do list that included making breakfast, getting the kids off to school, packing her swim gear, driving to the pool (and occasionally scraping ice off the windshield in winter), suiting up, doing the swim workout, shower & dress, and driving to work or back home.
Comparatively, Cortney’s typical Vasa SwimErg training session totaled only 30 to 45 minutes, including the 1-minute walk to her “pain cave”, a warm-up, the main set workout, a cool down, a shower & getting dressed. According to Cortney, “The Vasa SwimErg has allowed me to expand my swim training in an extremely efficient and effective way,” she says. “And it’s a lot of fun!”
Final Thoughts
If you’re unsure whether or not you’re ready to do some swim training at home with dryland training equipment like the SwimErg or Vasa Trainer Pro model, start by reviewing your current weekly swim training routine.
Calculate the average drive time costs, mileage, fuel per gallon, gym or pool fees, & gear. Be sure to consider the time costs per workout of packing & the roundtrip commute. How would having this option readily available at home positively impact you?
Even if you only trained 1 or 2 times in the pool each week, swim-at-home training with a Vasa can be a cost-effective way to supplement your swim training, maintain consistency, and add quality training while reducing the other expenses.
If nothing else, the countless hours saved will give you more time when it matters most. As the saying goes: “train smarter, not just harder.”
Another valuable benefit of having a Vasa Trainer Pro or a Vasa SwimErg (equipped with a Trainer Strap System) is the ability to do over 100 total gym strength and injury prevention exercises. Family members can use your Vasa for strength & conditioning for their favorite sports & fitness activities, making your investment even more cost-effective.
For multi-sport athletes, especially triathletes who need more equipment, it can make a difference worth thousands of dollars, plus significant time savings.
If budget is a concern, some of these same swim training benefits can be realized with lower-cost options, such as the Vasa Swim Cords & Sport Bench.
Be sure to check out these other useful articles for more insights on gaining the most from having a Vasa for swim-at-home training: