This may seem like a radical suggestion...or incredibly simple minded. Nonetheless, here's the concent: So much of our workout time, particularly on "distance sets" days, is concentrated on freestyle sets that I'd say our total weekly yardage is probably close to 85 percent or higher freestyle. (I would also venture a guess that this is a not uncommon scenario for many masters teams around the country.)
I know this emphasis on freestyle helps freestyle performance in meets, and I think lots of swimmers--myself included--have always reflexively assumed that if you're in decent freestyle shape, you can swim other strokes reasonably fast, as well; that aerobic and anaerobic conditioning for freestyle translates directly to, say, backstroke or butterfly conditioning.
But I also know that running doesn't particularly help swimming performance, because the muscles used are too sports specific, and you have to train the specific muscle you're going to use in a race. So I started to think maybe we should be doing "distance" sets in different strokes, particularly if any of us wanted to swim faster 200s (and the 400 IM).
As the "player coach" for our little team here in western pa, I've had us start doing distance stroke sets--for example, we did a 1000 backstroke, followed by 5 x 200 backstroke, on Monday.
We've only been doing this for 3-4 weeks now, but it's already made a difference, at least for me. I lowered my lifetime best in the 100 back last week (I'm a very mediocre backstroker) by almost a second--down to 1.02.6. (If I only knew how to do a backstroke start!)
Anyhow:
1) how many of you out there do distance sets of non freestyle?
2) do any of you have any data on stroke specific training, i.e., is it just a coincidence or does it really help to better times in these events?
3) assuming you're in pretty good freestyle shape, does shifting to training more backstroke or other non-freestyle stroke cause you to start deconditioning in freestyle?
Thanks for any advice or comments; I am hoping to shift topics somewhat from the last thread I began...
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Originally posted by jim thornton
1) how many of you out there do distance sets of non freestyle?
I do them in every workout. As far as I'm concerned, every set is a stroke set. I don't swim freestyle anymore. All freestyle sets are backstroke.
2) do any of you have any data on stroke specific training, i.e., is it just a coincidence or does it really help to better times in these events?
If the logic that swimming lots of freestyle helps your freestyle then it seems like it should apply to all other strokes as well. My backstroke has gotten faster, at some distance, every year since I made the switch. I think it's also because I've been consistent with my training for several years and I think it takes several years of training and racing to really get back into good form.
3) assuming you're in pretty good freestyle shape, does shifting to training more backstroke or other non-freestyle stroke cause you to start deconditioning in freestyle?
It has hurt my freestyle but since I do almost no free anymore I don't think I'm a good person to study. There's a happy medium somewhere. I can still race free but can't do much free in workout anymore. I've lost the feel for it.
Originally posted by jim thornton
1) how many of you out there do distance sets of non freestyle?
I do them in every workout. As far as I'm concerned, every set is a stroke set. I don't swim freestyle anymore. All freestyle sets are backstroke.
2) do any of you have any data on stroke specific training, i.e., is it just a coincidence or does it really help to better times in these events?
If the logic that swimming lots of freestyle helps your freestyle then it seems like it should apply to all other strokes as well. My backstroke has gotten faster, at some distance, every year since I made the switch. I think it's also because I've been consistent with my training for several years and I think it takes several years of training and racing to really get back into good form.
3) assuming you're in pretty good freestyle shape, does shifting to training more backstroke or other non-freestyle stroke cause you to start deconditioning in freestyle?
It has hurt my freestyle but since I do almost no free anymore I don't think I'm a good person to study. There's a happy medium somewhere. I can still race free but can't do much free in workout anymore. I've lost the feel for it.
