The new Master's coach philosophy is to do lower yardage and more IM. Lots of kicks (strengthen the core), lots of drills, and lots of toys (snorkel, skull finger paddles, regular paddles, zoomers, regular fins, *** stoke fins, finis tempo trainer, light weight kick board...) (disclaimer...I have not bought any of this stuff, just have the normal toys). I am in my 60's, have swum forever, many years in masters, raised age-group kids through college swimming, and am very confused.
I am used to 10 x 100 or 5 x 200's or couple 500's, IM once in a while, option to swim IM or free, kicks as a set in a workout, you know what I'm talkin' bout.
Now I am exhausted doing 90 minutes of kicks and sprints and only going 2000 yards. Flipping at the end of every set, using weight balls in the water, doing 6 x 100 *** stroke kick no hands, doing tandem training, example: swimming arm in arm with the other 60 year old doing fly kicks then holding his legs while I kick and he strokes, then vise versa. Now it is not always exhausting, but it seems always to be frustrating.
Working hard is not the problem, but working hard doing fly kicks in 50 meter pools is frustrating. And my distance flog is suffering. Not just 4 x 50 fly kicks, but 10 x 50 fly kicks.
It has been 4 months with new coach. Others say that they workouts are making them stronger for races and allowing them to be tougher. I worry about hurting my back, my shoulders, and not getting in my yardage.
Fitness swimming should be challenging and fun; I am a wimp? Should I give it more time? I like my team!
+1! Your post resonated with me. I am a breaststroker (like you) and compete in all three breaststroke events; so, I need to do those Fortress-style all out sets with long rest. On the other hand, I also LOVE competing in the Georgia Games Open Water Swim and racing the 3K & 1K back-to-back. I absolutely love racing open water and those training days were I do a "time trial" 3K race in the pool. That "zen-like world" you describe is exactly what I thoroughly enjoy. Variety is the spice of life in swimming, too! :wiggle:
I agree, Elaine. I could probably be faster in competition if I did more speed work and USRPT-like training. But, I would not enjoy training that way day in and day out. Racing just isn't as important to me right now as is an enjoyable work out experience :)
+1! Your post resonated with me. I am a breaststroker (like you) and compete in all three breaststroke events; so, I need to do those Fortress-style all out sets with long rest. On the other hand, I also LOVE competing in the Georgia Games Open Water Swim and racing the 3K & 1K back-to-back. I absolutely love racing open water and those training days were I do a "time trial" 3K race in the pool. That "zen-like world" you describe is exactly what I thoroughly enjoy. Variety is the spice of life in swimming, too! :wiggle:
I agree, Elaine. I could probably be faster in competition if I did more speed work and USRPT-like training. But, I would not enjoy training that way day in and day out. Racing just isn't as important to me right now as is an enjoyable work out experience :)
