The old discussion format left dangling an interesting topic suggested by Paul Smith in the rather excellent Distance vs Sprint thread started by Jim Thornton. The topic being that of the mental side of training/competition.
My own selfish interest in this area would be on the mental preparation for 50yds/m competition. Obviously there is not much time to do a great amount of thinking during this event (one of the benefits of 50's) but you need to go into the race with some limited number of important thoughts to concentrate on while swimming. Kind of like 'swing thoughts' in golf (my cross over training sport). As in golf, muscle memory will play a large part in not having to think about everything involved.
I wonder if Paul or any others would care to share what those few key race thoughts might be, from the start, swim and turn through to the finish? And would there be any mental aspects to training for a 50 that might be different from distance training?
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I am commenting this general post with my personal insight.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
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Race Prep: I think this is the area that stumps a lot of people, the truth is that winning races is usually not decided by who is in the best shape, but rather who is the better prepared mentally.
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My impression is that the most power one can summon in competition with good taper and visualization is the maximum physical conditioning one has built in training because there is not much surpassing available.
(The same comment is made by P.H. Mullen in the book "Gold in the Water" about the 2000 Olympics).
Originally posted by Paul Smith
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The reason that I brought it up was that I hear quite a few people talk about their workouts, but when we start going to meets all to often all the great training gets "lost" and people "choke".
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In my experience I see faster racers than me who train on the same intervals as I do, 1:15 pace per 100 yards; I think they are underachieving now in workouts in comparison with what peak swimming aerobic they have developed as teenagers; I as a post-teenager starter I overachieve in workouts to force an already formed body to perform at the same level: it's like in cars asking an already built Chevrolet to perform with a Ferrari, by small improvements in tedious tune-up.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
...Day in day out "motivation". What is it that keeps people getting up and hitting the pool at all hours in all conditions abusing themselves?! For me I have three things that keep me focused: Health/fitness, friendships & meets.
For me is the inner power that cultivates a sense of conqueror's adventure.
I am commenting this general post with my personal insight.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
...
Race Prep: I think this is the area that stumps a lot of people, the truth is that winning races is usually not decided by who is in the best shape, but rather who is the better prepared mentally.
...
My impression is that the most power one can summon in competition with good taper and visualization is the maximum physical conditioning one has built in training because there is not much surpassing available.
(The same comment is made by P.H. Mullen in the book "Gold in the Water" about the 2000 Olympics).
Originally posted by Paul Smith
...
The reason that I brought it up was that I hear quite a few people talk about their workouts, but when we start going to meets all to often all the great training gets "lost" and people "choke".
...
In my experience I see faster racers than me who train on the same intervals as I do, 1:15 pace per 100 yards; I think they are underachieving now in workouts in comparison with what peak swimming aerobic they have developed as teenagers; I as a post-teenager starter I overachieve in workouts to force an already formed body to perform at the same level: it's like in cars asking an already built Chevrolet to perform with a Ferrari, by small improvements in tedious tune-up.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
...Day in day out "motivation". What is it that keeps people getting up and hitting the pool at all hours in all conditions abusing themselves?! For me I have three things that keep me focused: Health/fitness, friendships & meets.
For me is the inner power that cultivates a sense of conqueror's adventure.
