The Fastest Age

Originally posted by aquageek Conversely, if an early bloomer like myself trains 1/3 of what Ion does (yet smokes him in times), has poor training habits and is generally a slacker, would a late bloomer who obsessively trains and has no life other than swimming still be at a disadvantage DUE SOLELY TO V02Max? You answered your own question. You win because of technique. The same reason I easily pass the guy in the next lane who is sprinting with twice my stroke rate while I'm swimming an easy warmup. Every day he sprints his heart out but never changes his technique. If you want to beat Ion in the 1000, you might have to train more seriously and build up your %VO2max (which is more of a factor in longer events).

Originally posted by aquageek Conversely, if an early bloomer like myself trains 1/3 of what Ion does (yet smokes him in times), has poor training habits and is generally a slacker, would a late bloomer who obsessively trains and has no life other than swimming still be at a disadvantage DUE SOLELY TO V02Max? You answered your own question. You win because of technique. The same reason I easily pass the guy in the next lane who is sprinting with twice my stroke rate while I'm swimming an easy warmup. Every day he sprints his heart out but never changes his technique. If you want to beat Ion in the 1000, you might have to train more seriously and build up your %VO2max (which is more of a factor in longer events).