I am pretty new to competitive swimming and have only raced sprint (50s and 100s) events thus far. That is mostly because short events are all I thought I could handle -- not because I thought I had any particular speed or affinity for these events.
Now, I am working on developing a dryland training program designed to complement my swimming. I need to know whether to focus on sprint events (which need power), middle distance events (which need power and endurance) or distance events (which need primarily endurance). Since my technique is only in the formative stages (so I am not yet equipped to show off any speed I might someday have), how can I tell whether I'd be better as a sprinter, middle distance or distance swimmer? Short of having a muscle biopsy to discern my ratio of fast-twitch to slow-twitch muscle fibers, is there a way to tell? How do coaches help swimmers choose their best events?
I ask because the dryland program I create will be very different based on my in-pool goals. For example, a dryland program designed for a distance swimmer could totally wreck the performance of a sprinter because intense aerobic endurance training decreases power output. (That's why you won't see power lifters riding the exercise bike except, perhaps, in the off-season.) I want to make sure I get it right. Any thoughts?
Parents
Former Member
Ion, once again has some interesting comments. When I was a youth I started with novice teams until age 14. So, during the period where the more intense age groups clubs workout on developing you into a 1650 freestyler, I swam 50's and 100's and once in a while a 200. My best events as a youth where at 100's. I was too short to be a good 50 yard swimmer and wasn't develop enough to be a good 200 yarder. In adult hood it seems that the 50's and 100's I do better time wise. But there is a lot of competition in the 50 yard swims. I did win my heat at a 200 yard breastroke by going out slow and actually swimming my last 50 faster than the 3rd 50 yard.
Ion, once again has some interesting comments. When I was a youth I started with novice teams until age 14. So, during the period where the more intense age groups clubs workout on developing you into a 1650 freestyler, I swam 50's and 100's and once in a while a 200. My best events as a youth where at 100's. I was too short to be a good 50 yard swimmer and wasn't develop enough to be a good 200 yarder. In adult hood it seems that the 50's and 100's I do better time wise. But there is a lot of competition in the 50 yard swims. I did win my heat at a 200 yard breastroke by going out slow and actually swimming my last 50 faster than the 3rd 50 yard.
