After being "spoken to" by the lifeguards about training SDKs, I am wondering how dangerous it really is to do multiple full 25 SCY SDKs.
Consider this set:
Fins on.
10x/2:00
This is just an example. Basically I'm referring to any set that contains multiple full 25 SDKs on a fixed time interval.
I've seen multiple people post sets like this in their blogs.
I've heard that on some age group teams the coach will demand that swimmers complete N full 25 SDKs on some fixed interval or everyone does it over.
The above observations would suggest that training full 25 SCY SDKs is a reasonable thing to do, but I've talked to some coaches and guards who seem to genuinely believe that even going past mid-pool underwater is just asking for trouble.
For a reasonably fit masters or age-group swimmer (Let's say a "BB" or stronger swimmer between the ages of 10 and 70 who can comfortably train 4x1hr/week), what do you think:
-Sets like these are generally safe as long as you don't do something stupid, like intentionally hyperventilate to the point of making yourself light headed before your push-off.
-Sets like this are generally safe, but you can never know if you have an un-diagnosed medical condition that renders them very dangerous so you shouldn't do them.
-Such sets are a little risky, but it's a risk you have to take to get really good at SDKs.
-If you do this kind of training regularly, you will eventually pass out under water and possibly die.
-The modern world is sufficiently rampant with litigation that no one can admit that sets like these are safe, even as anonymous vote on this forum.
Chris Stevenson writes:
...
If you want to work on underwater kicking in a serious manner -- more than 1-2 kicks off the walls -- there is no safe distance. So it becomes a matter of not ignoring warning signs or doing something stupid. For me the warning sign is a need to pee (which I never give into, of course!), which occurs before any spots or narrowing of vision or diaphragm spasms.
But Kevin in Md:
You say you feel fine and that's the key kinda, that's what makes it dangerous, in shallow water blackout you feel fine until you just blackout.
So is Chris kidding himself? If we can't go by "feel" because we are going to be feeling fine and then simply black out, (i.e. there are no "warning signs") then practicing SDK is pretty scary business. Since it is cold water not breath control that makes me feel like I need to pee, it seems that the best warning sign is wanting to breathe. Well that's silly. I feel like I "need to breathe" pretty much all the time at swim practice!
Now I know it is stupid to intentionally hyperventilate, but if I just finished a hard effort obviously I am going to breathe hard while I recover, and unless I don't do another effort until the next day, I'm obviously not going to be *completely* recovered before my next SDK effort. Furthermore, of course I am going to take a great big gulp of air before I push off. Just before my flip turn in a backstroke race I grab the biggest breath I can too. Now am I supposed to believe that this is dangerous and I should not take a big breath before my turn? Right. if you say that I am suspecting that you are just looking for ways to disadvantage your competitors, while you fully plan to breathe all you want yourself.
Chris Stevenson writes:
...
If you want to work on underwater kicking in a serious manner -- more than 1-2 kicks off the walls -- there is no safe distance. So it becomes a matter of not ignoring warning signs or doing something stupid. For me the warning sign is a need to pee (which I never give into, of course!), which occurs before any spots or narrowing of vision or diaphragm spasms.
But Kevin in Md:
You say you feel fine and that's the key kinda, that's what makes it dangerous, in shallow water blackout you feel fine until you just blackout.
So is Chris kidding himself? If we can't go by "feel" because we are going to be feeling fine and then simply black out, (i.e. there are no "warning signs") then practicing SDK is pretty scary business. Since it is cold water not breath control that makes me feel like I need to pee, it seems that the best warning sign is wanting to breathe. Well that's silly. I feel like I "need to breathe" pretty much all the time at swim practice!
Now I know it is stupid to intentionally hyperventilate, but if I just finished a hard effort obviously I am going to breathe hard while I recover, and unless I don't do another effort until the next day, I'm obviously not going to be *completely* recovered before my next SDK effort. Furthermore, of course I am going to take a great big gulp of air before I push off. Just before my flip turn in a backstroke race I grab the biggest breath I can too. Now am I supposed to believe that this is dangerous and I should not take a big breath before my turn? Right. if you say that I am suspecting that you are just looking for ways to disadvantage your competitors, while you fully plan to breathe all you want yourself.
