Fort, don't you think getting back in shape to swim a world class 400 free is much harder than a world class 50 free? So much more yardage is involved.
I bet what Fort or another sprinter might reply is that training to be an elite sprinter takes just as much time and effort, it just isn't in the pool (accumulating yardage) as much as for distance races.
By the way, I have realized the source of my notion that aerobic capacity fades faster with age compared to strength/power: it was the article on Mark Foster posted earlier in this thread. Specifically:
...the fact that he is a sprinter, rather than an endurance athlete ..., also helps. 'Strength reduces at a slower rate than aerobic parameters,' Whyte confirms. 'That explains why strength and power-based sports have more mature athletes in the elite ranks. Foster only competes over 50metres and we know that it is possible to maintain performance to an older age in these type of events.'
I have also seen other comments that strength/power fade faster than aerobic endurance, though! No idea who is right. My *own* experience is that my strength and power are much closer to what they were in my 20s, compared to aerobic capacity. At USA-S meets I can hold my own against some kids in the 100 who just blow me away at 200+ distances.
But besides age, there is the confounding effect that I just don't train at the same volumes anymore.
I wonder if cross-training might help sprinters a bit in this regard. I simply cannot imagine pounding out the 15k-20k per day that distance swimmers used to do back when I was young (do they still do this?). Maybe cross-training confers a little more ability to recover from workouts? And maybe less likelihood of overuse injuries?
I look at the leaders of Go the Distance and know that some few masters swimmers are putting out some impressive numbers, though. I remember reading about some of the workouts that Dennis Baker was doing a few years ago and thinking to myself that they came pretty close to matching, in terms of workout volume and intensity, what I used to do in college. Maybe I only *think* I can't do that kind of thing in middle age (who has the time, anyway, though...).
Fort, don't you think getting back in shape to swim a world class 400 free is much harder than a world class 50 free? So much more yardage is involved.
I bet what Fort or another sprinter might reply is that training to be an elite sprinter takes just as much time and effort, it just isn't in the pool (accumulating yardage) as much as for distance races.
By the way, I have realized the source of my notion that aerobic capacity fades faster with age compared to strength/power: it was the article on Mark Foster posted earlier in this thread. Specifically:
...the fact that he is a sprinter, rather than an endurance athlete ..., also helps. 'Strength reduces at a slower rate than aerobic parameters,' Whyte confirms. 'That explains why strength and power-based sports have more mature athletes in the elite ranks. Foster only competes over 50metres and we know that it is possible to maintain performance to an older age in these type of events.'
I have also seen other comments that strength/power fade faster than aerobic endurance, though! No idea who is right. My *own* experience is that my strength and power are much closer to what they were in my 20s, compared to aerobic capacity. At USA-S meets I can hold my own against some kids in the 100 who just blow me away at 200+ distances.
But besides age, there is the confounding effect that I just don't train at the same volumes anymore.
I wonder if cross-training might help sprinters a bit in this regard. I simply cannot imagine pounding out the 15k-20k per day that distance swimmers used to do back when I was young (do they still do this?). Maybe cross-training confers a little more ability to recover from workouts? And maybe less likelihood of overuse injuries?
I look at the leaders of Go the Distance and know that some few masters swimmers are putting out some impressive numbers, though. I remember reading about some of the workouts that Dennis Baker was doing a few years ago and thinking to myself that they came pretty close to matching, in terms of workout volume and intensity, what I used to do in college. Maybe I only *think* I can't do that kind of thing in middle age (who has the time, anyway, though...).
