I am always amused at how often master's swimmers will take individual liberties in workout to suit their own needs. For example:
* Swimming free instead of breaststroke or the stroke prescribed by the coach.
* One handed turns on *** and fly.
* Cutting corners to stay up with the lane
* Using pull gear when it isn't a pull set
* Kicking your favorite kick and not the one given by the coach
* Leaving 2 seconds behind (more like 2 tenths behind)
* Pulling on the lane line
* Swimming when it's a kick set
* etc...
Maybe its all those years of swimming under "do it my way or the highway" type coaches, that I still have a hard time changing anything in the workout. I must admit however that it does feel good once and while to cheat a little.
As a coach, I've asked many swimmers as to why they change the set or cheat and I hear a million different excuses. I'm very interested in hearing from all of you, all the excuses you have or have heard from other swimmers.
Some of my favorite ones are:
* I don't want to get passed!!!
* I hate the other strokes? (from a former IM'r)
* My tri coach say's I shouldn't swim other strokes
I think the term "cheating" might be a little overkill.
For some of scenarios it might be appropriate, but, if a swimmer's having problems with a knee he/she might not be able to kick breaststroke or problems with a shoulder may have to lay off fly.
One handed turns might just be sloppiness/lazyness. They'll probably get their just due when they get DQ'ed.
I'm one to tend to swim the exercise as given by the coach more times than not, but there are times when I modify to suit my particular circumstances especially around the time of more important meets. Most other folks in our pool aren't there to compete and have no intentions of ever competing but we just forgive them and move on.
I think the term "cheating" might be a little overkill.
For some of scenarios it might be appropriate, but, if a swimmer's having problems with a knee he/she might not be able to kick breaststroke or problems with a shoulder may have to lay off fly.
One handed turns might just be sloppiness/lazyness. They'll probably get their just due when they get DQ'ed.
I'm one to tend to swim the exercise as given by the coach more times than not, but there are times when I modify to suit my particular circumstances especially around the time of more important meets. Most other folks in our pool aren't there to compete and have no intentions of ever competing but we just forgive them and move on.
