I've been focusing on stroke work for the past year or so and I'm hitting on a phase I'm hoping others have hit and have answers to.
My 75-85% efforts are when my stroke is best but 1) It seems to fall apart when I really put the pedal to the metal and 2) If I try to slow down to build endurance, the stroke also does not stay together. If I can't maintain stroke mechanics during peak sprints or cardio/muscular endurance sets would that amount to garbage yardage?
This funky middle ground means I get some decent effort in practice, but it seems too short compared to other swimmers workouts. Without building power or endurance using 'the right stroke' I worry that I'm not really making as good of progress as I can.
Thanks in advance.
... I get some decent effort in practice, but it seems too short compared to other swimmers workouts.
My 2 cents ...
I think it is a mistake to compare yardage versus other swimmers. Other swimmers, including many masters teams, live & die on high yardage, low rest interval, cardio sets. Their focus is on generic fitness and/or endurance, not stroke mechanics. If your focus is stroke, then I'd expect your workouts to total fewer yards. If you are getting decent effort in practice, then bugger the yardage!
stroke ... seems to fall apart when I really put the pedal to the metal ...
As a confessed non-sprinter, I'd love to be able to help you there, but alas, I can't. Maybe some of the quicker folks can help.
... I get some decent effort in practice, but it seems too short compared to other swimmers workouts.
My 2 cents ...
I think it is a mistake to compare yardage versus other swimmers. Other swimmers, including many masters teams, live & die on high yardage, low rest interval, cardio sets. Their focus is on generic fitness and/or endurance, not stroke mechanics. If your focus is stroke, then I'd expect your workouts to total fewer yards. If you are getting decent effort in practice, then bugger the yardage!
stroke ... seems to fall apart when I really put the pedal to the metal ...
As a confessed non-sprinter, I'd love to be able to help you there, but alas, I can't. Maybe some of the quicker folks can help.
