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.
No, just playing the odds. But if you listen to Bob Bowman (NBAC) 1 shallow water blackout death is too many. I heard Bowman talk about having to pick up Louis Lowenthal’s gear bag from the pool deck and return it to Louis' parents. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
For me it’s less about guys like Chris who know what they’re doing and more about the people who see Chris and try to imitate or beat him.
I enjoy reading how swimmers like Chris train as well as to observe the local superstar high school swimmers in our local USAS swim clubs during their workout sessions.
Self perception and "Common sense" are not always so clear in every circumstance. It is my belief that hypoxic training in swimming is basically not safe and should least be done supervised or observed. I believe for myself that most forms of hypoxic type swimming done when rested that 25 yards or less seems to be a low risk of hypoxia. But from my few experiences attempting multiple repeats, intervals, or longer swims with ongoing restricted breathing via underwater SDKS and/or reduced number of breathers per length, I learned instantly that kind of hypoxic training is very uncomfortable, and there are other higher priority training activities. For me, doing some rested hypoxic training activity of short durations with full recovery (HR under 100) seems manageable at my current age. I also anticipate my "hypoxic" capacity will continue to degrade as I get older. Even with doing fast swim training at close to maximum heart rates, I have learned that I must manage how "hard" and often I repeat the "high" HR efforts.
No, just playing the odds. But if you listen to Bob Bowman (NBAC) 1 shallow water blackout death is too many. I heard Bowman talk about having to pick up Louis Lowenthal’s gear bag from the pool deck and return it to Louis' parents. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
For me it’s less about guys like Chris who know what they’re doing and more about the people who see Chris and try to imitate or beat him.
I enjoy reading how swimmers like Chris train as well as to observe the local superstar high school swimmers in our local USAS swim clubs during their workout sessions.
Self perception and "Common sense" are not always so clear in every circumstance. It is my belief that hypoxic training in swimming is basically not safe and should least be done supervised or observed. I believe for myself that most forms of hypoxic type swimming done when rested that 25 yards or less seems to be a low risk of hypoxia. But from my few experiences attempting multiple repeats, intervals, or longer swims with ongoing restricted breathing via underwater SDKS and/or reduced number of breathers per length, I learned instantly that kind of hypoxic training is very uncomfortable, and there are other higher priority training activities. For me, doing some rested hypoxic training activity of short durations with full recovery (HR under 100) seems manageable at my current age. I also anticipate my "hypoxic" capacity will continue to degrade as I get older. Even with doing fast swim training at close to maximum heart rates, I have learned that I must manage how "hard" and often I repeat the "high" HR efforts.
