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.
Not trying to minimize the issue, but risk assessment/perception is a tricky thing. Probably the riskiest thing any of us do is get behind the wheel of a car. Driving above the speed limit demonstrably increases that risk but many do it without a second thought. Taking your eyes off the road to change the radio station (much less, God forbid, text someone) is likely significantly riskier than doing 25s underwater.
I have never seen someone die of shallow-water blackout but I have seen two people die (literally, not figuratively) just after a 200 fly race. Not to mention other races. Should I never do another meet again? We choose to exercise in a medium that can kill us if something goes wrong, wouldn't it be safer to run on a treadmill instead?
My point is that there is almost nothing that is risk free and each of us does his/her own risk-benefit calculus, often sub-consciously, before engaging in such behavior. If I had to guess at the top three risky behaviors I do, underwaters wouldn't even make the list (for the record, I'd guess them to be, in order: bike riding, driving, and over-indulging my sweet tooth). Others may come to a different conclusion for themselves.
And coaches have a whole different set of worries. If I were a coach I have no doubt I would not ever ask someone to go past 15m underwater, and even then I'd be cautious. When I was in college I heard of coaches who would DEMAND that the whole team do 50s no-breathers. Those days are gone I think.
Not trying to minimize the issue, but risk assessment/perception is a tricky thing. Probably the riskiest thing any of us do is get behind the wheel of a car. Driving above the speed limit demonstrably increases that risk but many do it without a second thought. Taking your eyes off the road to change the radio station (much less, God forbid, text someone) is likely significantly riskier than doing 25s underwater.
I have never seen someone die of shallow-water blackout but I have seen two people die (literally, not figuratively) just after a 200 fly race. Not to mention other races. Should I never do another meet again? We choose to exercise in a medium that can kill us if something goes wrong, wouldn't it be safer to run on a treadmill instead?
My point is that there is almost nothing that is risk free and each of us does his/her own risk-benefit calculus, often sub-consciously, before engaging in such behavior. If I had to guess at the top three risky behaviors I do, underwaters wouldn't even make the list (for the record, I'd guess them to be, in order: bike riding, driving, and over-indulging my sweet tooth). Others may come to a different conclusion for themselves.
And coaches have a whole different set of worries. If I were a coach I have no doubt I would not ever ask someone to go past 15m underwater, and even then I'd be cautious. When I was in college I heard of coaches who would DEMAND that the whole team do 50s no-breathers. Those days are gone I think.
