In another thread, now closed, speed vs. technique was mentioned and then the thread got off on a tangent... I was curious what people think about speed vs. technique.
In the past few years our coach, Kerry O'Brien, has been telling us that at the end of the race when most are "dead" it is the swimmer that slows down the least who is better off. Obviously as the race progresses you will eventually get slower, but if you can keep your stroke together the entire race, and especially at the end, you will do better. We even did some fun sets to help us realize when we begin to slow down.
For example we would swim a 75 full speed. The second you felt yourself start to slow down you were to stop on that spot. I think mine was about 45 yards if I remember right. You take that information and work it into your race. It was helpful to know where "the wheels start to come off" so I can concentrate more on technique at that point. (I can't remember but I think we were also timed and worked that in as well...)
Kerry is very innovative and is always trying new things. So along the lines of the thread with "old dogs, new tricks" Kerry keeps our "pound" hoppin'. And because he is such a positive motivator everyone will try these new things. Some may not like it or use it but at least they've tried something new!
What new things have you (the collective you) tried? Was it helpful?
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Kerry is one GREAT coach, and fun too.
I have long believed in exactly what Kerry proposed. The great track star Edwim Moses trained that way, as fast as possible with PERFECT technique as far as possible. He went from being able to run 300 yards perfect to the full 400 meters. He was like 2 hurdles ahead of the next guy!!!
I often felt if our sprinters in the 100 meters free trained the same way, they could do a 46 flat. It is interesting that the times in the 400 hurdles is about the same as the 100 freestyle.
So a young swimmer doing 22 flat for 50 meters would start training to go as far as possible as perfectly as possible, like Edwin Moses.
In breaststroke Ed Moses is the first swimmer to have world record speed from 50 meters all the way to the 200. He swims with perfect technique. He has had some swims that are truly Beamonest. As in Bob Beamon. Only one problem, his perfect swims have come in meets that don't really matter, World Cup events that have won him as much as $100,000 a single meet. But that Olympic Gold medel in an individual event eludes him.
He could be unreal if he gets a perfect swim either at Olympic trails or the Olympics, such as going out in 27.5 for a 57.5 in the 100 *** and doing a 2:06 in the 200 ***. All possible because of his speed and technique. Now will he win, I doubt it.
My favorite in the 100 is Gibson and Kitijima in the 200. Real money swimmers.
Kerry is one GREAT coach, and fun too.
I have long believed in exactly what Kerry proposed. The great track star Edwim Moses trained that way, as fast as possible with PERFECT technique as far as possible. He went from being able to run 300 yards perfect to the full 400 meters. He was like 2 hurdles ahead of the next guy!!!
I often felt if our sprinters in the 100 meters free trained the same way, they could do a 46 flat. It is interesting that the times in the 400 hurdles is about the same as the 100 freestyle.
So a young swimmer doing 22 flat for 50 meters would start training to go as far as possible as perfectly as possible, like Edwin Moses.
In breaststroke Ed Moses is the first swimmer to have world record speed from 50 meters all the way to the 200. He swims with perfect technique. He has had some swims that are truly Beamonest. As in Bob Beamon. Only one problem, his perfect swims have come in meets that don't really matter, World Cup events that have won him as much as $100,000 a single meet. But that Olympic Gold medel in an individual event eludes him.
He could be unreal if he gets a perfect swim either at Olympic trails or the Olympics, such as going out in 27.5 for a 57.5 in the 100 *** and doing a 2:06 in the 200 ***. All possible because of his speed and technique. Now will he win, I doubt it.
My favorite in the 100 is Gibson and Kitijima in the 200. Real money swimmers.
