Has anyone used any of the strength training plans from this book by David Salo? I had planned to follow this starting in January, but when it came right down to it, the plans seemed nebulous and possibly a bit out of date compared to other plans I had available (non swim specific). So I went with another option for the time being.
Any thoughts, opinions?
Parents
Former Member
My recollection of his book is that it seemed designed for high school kids who weren't really lifting weights yet. Some of the exercises in the book -- good mornings, squats, back extensions -- are fantastic, IF you use actual weight. I'm not really impressed with stretch cords. Lifting will indeed kill a swim workout or at least make you feel terrible during it, especially heavy upper body lifting. This season, I've been sticking to lifting 2x a week (haven't done any upper body due to elbow issues) and have felt great in the water. I previously had sometimes tried to do a third dryland workout, probably too much (at age 50). I swim 5x a week with 3 speed/lactate workouts.
I was hoping you would chime in because your schedule seems to be what I go for as well. I'm regretfully cutting weights back to 2x/week because I was just running myself into the ground.
The upper body strengthening is frustrating to me because yeah, it trashes the swimming but I really do want to build my maximum strength more, and fill in with swimming for endurance strength. I hope that makes sense.:blush: It does to me.
I also want to work upper body in an "opposite" way to what swimming does.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I just did lower body work and some injury prevention stuff and pushups for upper body and left it at that.:)
ARGH!! If I can't swim fast I want to at least LOOK intimidating on the pool deck!:applaud:
My recollection of his book is that it seemed designed for high school kids who weren't really lifting weights yet. Some of the exercises in the book -- good mornings, squats, back extensions -- are fantastic, IF you use actual weight. I'm not really impressed with stretch cords. Lifting will indeed kill a swim workout or at least make you feel terrible during it, especially heavy upper body lifting. This season, I've been sticking to lifting 2x a week (haven't done any upper body due to elbow issues) and have felt great in the water. I previously had sometimes tried to do a third dryland workout, probably too much (at age 50). I swim 5x a week with 3 speed/lactate workouts.
I was hoping you would chime in because your schedule seems to be what I go for as well. I'm regretfully cutting weights back to 2x/week because I was just running myself into the ground.
The upper body strengthening is frustrating to me because yeah, it trashes the swimming but I really do want to build my maximum strength more, and fill in with swimming for endurance strength. I hope that makes sense.:blush: It does to me.
I also want to work upper body in an "opposite" way to what swimming does.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I just did lower body work and some injury prevention stuff and pushups for upper body and left it at that.:)
ARGH!! If I can't swim fast I want to at least LOOK intimidating on the pool deck!:applaud:
