This is kind of an offshoot from the thread on heart rate monitors.
I just got back into swimming after taking about 10 years off and I absolutely enjoy it. Just joined a Masters team as well which is making it that much more enjoyable.
However, I do have a question. I've been off and on weight training for the past two years or so and never really much got into monitoring my heart rate. However, about four months ago I read an article on how important of a role your heart rate can play in training, for anything, much less swimming and tried screwing around with it. So needless to say, while I was reading the thread on heart rate monitors I saw some intriguing stuff. But most off all was the line by Breaststroker which read:
"If you are trying to loose rate, all your workuts shold be at 50-60% of maximum heart rate.
If you are training to win Nationals, you must do most of your training in the 70-85% range. Many swimmers (older) are training at 90-95% range. Your body will never recover from this and not fully develope. This maximum heart rate range should only be done once a week as it takes 72 hours for the muscles to rebuild."
So I've noticed since joining the Masters team and increasing the intensity of my swimming workout, that I am seriously whipped throughout the week. Right now I swim three days a week and do a minor full body workout three other days a week. I can't think that this is from doing too much activity throughout the week because I've weightrained six days a week before and never felt this whipped. But, when I am swimming, I pretty much give it my all on every set. As that relates to heart rate, when I check it after a set it's usually 130 bpm (no monitor, just finger to the neck). That said, is that normal for a 29 year old, 5'11" 180 lb. male? Or am I training too hard during my swimming practice? Or am I just whipped because I've only been doing this particular workout for about two weeks now and it just is going to take my body time to adjust.
Lastly, I would like to focus more on sprinting than distance/endurance as that is what I did in high school and the one year that I swam in college. Any recommendations as to what heart rate I should shoot for?
Sorry for the length of this, but I am curious as to what you all think and any input would be greatly appreciated.
BCK
Parents
Former Member
A paid coach of any caliber, or a GOOD coach (paid or not), should offer you structured workouts in some form or another. Maybe the coach will talk with the swimmers and determine what ultimate goals for each are, and try to work some of the training towards that; just determining what level each swimmer is at is important for a coach to do. A good coach will try to offer constructive criticism of stroke techniques and methods/drills to fix or change a technique "flaw." A good coach should be able to tell (have an idea, at least) when someone is reaching too far, too fast (nothing wrong with reaching far), and in danger of over-training.
A coach hired for monitoring is a lifeguard.
Go for a GOOD coach -- especially if you are putting up GOOD money.
A paid coach of any caliber, or a GOOD coach (paid or not), should offer you structured workouts in some form or another. Maybe the coach will talk with the swimmers and determine what ultimate goals for each are, and try to work some of the training towards that; just determining what level each swimmer is at is important for a coach to do. A good coach will try to offer constructive criticism of stroke techniques and methods/drills to fix or change a technique "flaw." A good coach should be able to tell (have an idea, at least) when someone is reaching too far, too fast (nothing wrong with reaching far), and in danger of over-training.
A coach hired for monitoring is a lifeguard.
Go for a GOOD coach -- especially if you are putting up GOOD money.
