In my most recent blog entry, "One Man's Garbage..." forums.usms.org/blog.php , I asked my fellow swimmers their respective opinions on the impact long, slow, continuous swimming has on meet performance.
The expression "garbage yards" (and the pejorative overtones such a phrase conjurs) has become so embedded in the forum lexicon that many, I suspect, now consider as indisputable truth swimming this way is a waste of time for anyone with competitive ambitions.
Such a view appears particularly well-entrenched among the many non-credentialed exercise physiology pontificators here on the forums who also have a fondness for sprinting and dry land exercise.
But is the concept of garbage yards truly valid--or a kind of urban legend made up largely by sprinters who would rather be doing something other than spending 90 minutes without stopping in the pool?
I don't mean only practicing this way. But if you are, like me, inclined to enjoy swimming, once or twice a week, long, slow, relatively relaxing, continuous yards, do you believe (and more importantly, perhaps, have any evidence to bolster said belief) that so-called "garbage yards" can have some value for actual racing?
Or do these only teach your body to swim slow?
I invite you to read my recent blog forums.usms.org/blog.php and post your thoughts advice there or here.
At the risk of provoking censure by the forum authorities, I furthermore ask you to leave all civility by the wayside.
Feel free to trash talk and smack upside the head of any and every one who disagrees with your personal bias here!
It's been way too long since these forums have had a good, old-fashioned range war of opinions run amuk and ad hominem attacks!
Go at each other tooth and claw. It will only stir the blood of us all, I say--something we garbage yard enthusiasts probably need a bit more of, I will admit.
Former Member
This morning, after months of being stubbornly waylaid in the low 40s, my own resting heart rate took a huge and exciting leap in the direction of death by registering a 2012 personal best of 36.
I credit garbage yardage to this salutory development and hope to soon match Bjorn Borg's 29 and that female triathlete's 18.
I find this really interesting, Jim. My current resting pulse rate is 38. I usually manage to get it down to 30 bpm, but this is helped by taking beta-blockers and other pills. I need a low resting pulse rate because I actually work between heart beats. I hope you find this of interest...
www.youtube.com/watch
I find this really interesting, Jim. My current resting pulse rate is 38. I usually manage to get it down to 30 bpm, but this is helped by taking beta-blockers and other pills. I need a low resting pulse rate because I actually work between heart beats. I hope you find this of interest...
www.youtube.com/watch
If any of you missed this, I implore you: Go back and watch this video.
Without doubt, Graham, this is absolutely the single most fascinating "goal" for swimming training via "el Garbagio" (and I would argue that when a 65-year-old artist is swimming 10K every day of his life to lower his resting heart rate for his work, he is probably not doing too much of this as 50s AFAP on 7 minute intervals!)
Seriously, my fellow forumites, this is what I love so much about this forum: the chance to meet absolutely remarkable individuals, almost by accident, here online. I have definitely noted posts by GGS5T in the past, but until now, I had no idea what a remarkable fellow we can include here among our number!
Perhaps Graham could one day engrave a miniature trophy of sorts for the USMS swimmer with a lifetime record of tiniest accomplishments! Humbly, I put myself up for consideration for the first of just such a Nano Cup!
Again, if you do NOTHING ELSE THIS WEEK, PLEASE WATCH GRAHAM'S STORY, FILED BY THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND POSTED ON YOUTUBE HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch
P.S., was your resting heart rate naturally low to begin with? How much has the daily 10k swimming helped to lower it further still?
On this point, Leslie, That Guy and I are in perfect agreement.
However, I think there is belief that "garbage yard = long, aerobic sets" and vice-versa. I can and will continue to do sets that are long, with little rest but high intensity possibly for a single set that totals 3K or 4K. To some people, that might seem like garbage yardage, but it absolutely prepares me for my key races (400 IM and 500 free, sometimes the 800 and 1000). What bugs me is that there is such a thing as "garbage short yardage" where people do short sets with long rest under the guise of training for speed (Fortress -- I KNOW this is not you), but really aren't pushing themselves to really train for speed. They are training without purpose or without dedicating themselves to the purpose of the set.
Fortress, I hate to publicly point out errors you have made since I admire you so much, but I'd hate to have your reputation besmirched, so I have corrected these statements ...
to read more accurately, I think my posture is nothing if not consistent.
I find this really interesting, Jim. My current resting pulse rate is 38. I usually manage to get it down to 30 bpm, but this is helped by taking beta-blockers and other pills. I need a low resting pulse rate because I actually work between heart beats. I hope you find this of interest...
www.youtube.com/watch
I agree with Jimby...interesting stuff. Although taking B-Blockers may help your miniature engraving skills and golf game...no way it's helping your swimming.
My definition of garbage yards came at the end of 2011 with 10 miles down on my GTD and no motivation when I did 3000-6000 straight slow yards per day for 3 weeks. It's good for nothing other than to keep a small amount of fitness.
Speaking of less aerobic activity for sprinting, interesting article in lava magazine a few months ago where a guy successfully (and quickly) did an ironman with more high quality workouts and way less traditional aerobic miles.
Again, if you do NOTHING ELSE THIS WEEK, PLEASE WATCH GRAHAM'S STORY, FILED BY THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND POSTED ON YOUTUBE HERE:
Yes, that was well worth watching. Amazing! And good looking swimming stroke, too. Thanks for sharing this, Graham.
Speaking of less aerobic activity for sprinting, interesting article in lava magazine a few months ago where a guy successfully (and quickly) did an ironman with more high quality workouts and way less traditional aerobic miles.
I've recently heard anecdotes along a similar vein -- elite (OT qualifier) marathon runners training 4x week with quality fast/slow mileage and nothing traditional.
I read an article on training recently that had a pretty good quote. It was something like "you should be training to improve your racing performance. You should not train just to get better at training." Now, how exactly you should train to improve your race performance is debatable, but I think this is a good mantra to keep in your mind anytime you get in the pool.
If your sole reason for swimming is to improve your race performance, then yes.
For those who don't want to race and are swimming for fitness, perhaps swimming just to swim is the right thing to be doing?
So I’m thinking that maybe fitness/distance swimming can be very good, non-garbagey swimming if used to ingrain good technique (I mean for people like me who do not already have good technique and/or who would not be able to maintain good technique throughout a race-oriented practice session); and this may serve as a good foundation for race training; but fitness/distance swimming in and of itself may not do much of anything to prepare the body for racing.
a regular part of my training consists of long sets... 3000 - 9000 yds @ x (100 - 200 yds) on an interval that allows me 5-10 seconds rest.
additionally, i'll impose a strict SPL to be maintained throughout.
no, this isn't going to help me swim a fast 50, but it does wonders for the 1650 (which is still a sprint in my book)
