Just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what anyone might think is the best solution....
I've been working back into competition shape after some time off. I started by swimming on my own, then swimming a couple of days with the Masters team to swimming 4-5 days with the Masters team. I'm making progress, getting back into shape and all, but still have a hard time keeping up with a few of the intervals in sets our coach provides. Some others in the group also have trouble. I don't think the coach should change the intervals; I think I simply should continue to improve to meet them.
My question is, if you can't make the intervals for a set, do you shorten the length of the swim to make the interval (i.e. doing 250s instead of 300s), or use fins to keep up? Right now I use fins and swim the prescribed distance, and the fins help me make the time. Others shorten the distance to make the time.
I'd hate to become dependent on the fins or somehow hinder my progress by relying too much on them -- what's too much anyway? -- but I haven't wanted to cut short the yardage.
Any thoughts? I appreciate your help!
Parents
Former Member
First thing don’t get hung up on total yardage that’s for Tri geeks and distance freaks, even though I belong to that last group. Second, ask your coach what the work load of the intended set is. Work load as in heart rate, 60%-70%-80%.......etc of maximum heart rate. If a set is intended to be at a 70% work load and you can barely make the interval and you’re out of breath then you’re in the wrong lane. If you need to put on fins/paddles or both to make the interval on a set that is suppose to be equipment free then again go to a slower lane. Finally, the coach may actually want you to do an interval that you can barely make or ultimately can’t make to push your anaerobic threshold. If that’s the case, it should be part of his instructions for the set.
First thing don’t get hung up on total yardage that’s for Tri geeks and distance freaks, even though I belong to that last group. Second, ask your coach what the work load of the intended set is. Work load as in heart rate, 60%-70%-80%.......etc of maximum heart rate. If a set is intended to be at a 70% work load and you can barely make the interval and you’re out of breath then you’re in the wrong lane. If you need to put on fins/paddles or both to make the interval on a set that is suppose to be equipment free then again go to a slower lane. Finally, the coach may actually want you to do an interval that you can barely make or ultimately can’t make to push your anaerobic threshold. If that’s the case, it should be part of his instructions for the set.
