For most people, I would think swimming butterfly would be the most demanding stroke, raising the heart rate the highest. So, leaving that stroke out of this discussion, which stroke raises your heart rate the highest while working on DPS?
Saturday is recovery day for me, so I take Paul Smith's advice by aiming to keep my heart rate below 120. For my recovery swims, I have been swimming various 100's, resting for 20 seconds, on the advice of James Adams. I work on DPS and technique by doing various drills, as well as full stroke. After each 100, during the rest period, I take my pulse for 10 seconds and multiply x6, to determine my heart rate.
My normal resting heart rate is 50-54; it used to be 68 when I was a power walker/ gym rat, before returning to swimming. So, it has improved quite a bit. But, I have found it difficult to keep it down while swimming breaststroke (my best competitive stroke). And, I am curious if others have experienced the same thing.
While working on DPS and trying to keep a good propulsive phase and streamline for each of the strokes, this is my typical heart rate on a recovery day:
Freestyle- 17 (10 seconds)/ 102 (per minute)
Backstroke- 20/ 120
Breaststroke- 24/ 144 :afraid:
If I just work on my breaststroke pull (no pull buoy), I can keep my heart rate closer to 120, but it still gets to high. And, if I just work on my kick (no board, on stomach, arms out in front), I can keep it even lower. But, once I put the stroke together, fuhhhgetaboutit! (And, yes, I am exhaling fully on each stroke.)
So this is what I can't figure out: Why was breaststroke so easy when I swam back in high school and had a race time 11 seconds faster on my 100 than I do now? It seemed like I could swim breaststroke forever! At the time, it was freestyle that was so difficult and got my heart rate jumping. I hated it! But, now, it's breaststroke that is the more heart-racing stroke. (On both strokes, my technique is much better now than it was then.)
I will be curious to hear what others have experienced...
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Former Member
Elaine- 50-54 bpm is impressive. That means you're a true athlete. An average person with that heart rate would be considered bradycardic (heart beat too slow).
Heart rate is an interesting thing. It can be influenced in a quite a number of ways. This is just a suggestion, but have you ever considered your heart rate increase during your *** stroke could be related to your injury? If you're in pain, than thats an obvious reason for your HR to increase. On a more psychological side, the fear of injuring/re-injuring/subjecting yourself could be a factor.
I hate going to the doctor. They really stress me out. The last time I went my BP was 160/100 with a heart rate of 165bpm. My mom is a pediatrician. When I get my blood pressure checked at home or anywhere else other than a doctor's office my blood pressure is very low- 104/68, 62bpm. It's crazy.
Elaine- 50-54 bpm is impressive. That means you're a true athlete. An average person with that heart rate would be considered bradycardic (heart beat too slow).
Heart rate is an interesting thing. It can be influenced in a quite a number of ways. This is just a suggestion, but have you ever considered your heart rate increase during your *** stroke could be related to your injury? If you're in pain, than thats an obvious reason for your HR to increase. On a more psychological side, the fear of injuring/re-injuring/subjecting yourself could be a factor.
I hate going to the doctor. They really stress me out. The last time I went my BP was 160/100 with a heart rate of 165bpm. My mom is a pediatrician. When I get my blood pressure checked at home or anywhere else other than a doctor's office my blood pressure is very low- 104/68, 62bpm. It's crazy.
