I've been reading a great book about swim training. It devotes a chapter to each of the four strokes and one to IM. It was suggesting that IM should be tought of as an entirely different event. That IM swimmers shouldn't train actual IMs until 5 weeks before their meet. The should train the strokes, swimming 800-1000 meters/yards EVERY practice (either swim, drill, kick, pull, ect).
It has an entire plan laid out for what the focus of every practice is. Basically, that each practice should be devoted to a different stroke.
I've always assumed that IMmers should swim IM all the time.
THOUGHTS?
Heather:
May I ask what book you are referring to? I have a couple of swimming books about the IM. Derek Snelling had a book out many years ago called "All About the Individual Medley" which is excellent. Also George Bole had a book that devoted a lot of chapters to IM. And Don Talbot had book out a long time ago called "Swim to Win" and had a full chapter about the IM. In all of those books, I never really heard of that statement that you should not train or swim IMs in practice until 5 weeks before the meet. Could you elaborate a little about this book?
The best description I've heard of IM was from Attila Czene (1996 Gold Medalist in the 200IM) who calls IM the "5th stroke".
Training for this in his opinion did involve a lot of IM work throughout the season, not just for conditioning and fluidness in the swimming part but especially in the turns/transitions.
He also described the race strategy for him as a "build" through each stroke/length (wether 200 or 400).
Not sure why avoiding IM swims till 5 weeks out would make any sense?
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Not sure why avoiding IM swims till 5 weeks out would make any sense?
The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is, by training IM, you naturally work the strokes you're already good in and tend to "blow-off" your weak strokes. By specifically training just one stroke you can't do this--well you could, but that would basically mean blowing off an entire set.
So if that's what the author is thinking I can kind of see it. I don't agree with not training IM at all until the last part of the season, but it's probably a good idea to work in some specific stroke sets in addition to IM sets.
I didn't write the author because I can't remember ... I want to Sweetham ... the former Aussie, not British coach.
What is was saying was to train 200s of every stroke, trying to make the 2nd 100 your 400IM split. Basically, it was saying that it is more important to work on the strokes and focus on stroke work rather than gutting it through a grueling IM set.
I think the logic is that if you get used to swimming all the strokes hard and tired your IM will improve. You also won't blow off your weak stroke.
I don't think he meant not to swim IM AT ALL, but rather to focus on each stroke. I've read that Katie Hoff pretty much trains this way. He also talked about swimming IM order only, and not mixing that up. I'm guessing because of muscle memory, but I'm not sure.
It was suggesting that a swimmer swim a practice in the backstroke lane, one in the breststroke lane, and so on ...
I'll have to reread the chapter then clarify.
Heather:
That makes a little more sense and I have heard of swimmers doing what you are saying. In fact Gary Hall used to work out this way when he was training for the IM and this is documented in the book the "Competitive Swimming Manual for Coaches and Swimmers" by James E. Doc Counsiliman back in 1977. I have the book "Championship Swim Training" by Bill Sweetenham that came out in 2003 and I know Chapter 8 is about the IM. Is that where you are referencing this? He also devotes chapter to all of the individual strokes, so does he make a reference there?
I be intested to hear what he has to say about training IM and training separate strokes and what % he recommends you do for both. Plus how much Free sets are incorporated in the IM training and how much of a distance program do the IM swimmers go thru. When you find the reference could you let us know? You and Kirk Nelson make some valid points about training the weak strokes all by themselves but I got to wonder what % that is.
I have to agree with what Pablo Smith says about the advice of training the IM by Attila Czene. Conditioning, turns, transition changes of strokes, and race strategy for each length are important regardless of the IM distance swam and you only get that by doing lots of hard intense IM sets.
That is the book I'm talking about. I skimmed most of the stroke chapters, but read the IM chapter. I'm sure IMs are done at various points, but maybe it's not the focus? Like instead of doing 4 x 400 IM. Doing 4 x 400 (200 fl, 200 bk) and trying to negative split each 200? I think it's saying to do more things like that. Also to focus on all 4 strokes.
I think IM is evolving and becoming more and more the premier event. By that I mean the top IM swimmers cannot have a weak stroke. All four strokes need to be world class. Look at Phelps, world class fly, back and free. His breaststroke is pretty darn good too. Obviously there will be a stroke that isn't as strong, but it's still a strong stroke.
Kaitlin Sandeno also has world class fly, back and free. Katie Hoff, does she have a weak stroke? It doesn't seem like it.
I also wonder how developmentally based this book is. Meaning, if it was aimed at younger swimmers that would need to focus on developing four strong strokes ...
Anyway ... I'd love to hear more thoughts on IM training.
There was a woman ast the Il Weslyan meet who swam the 500 Fly! It was amazing. I would die if I did that. I only occassionally swim 200 Fly if I feel good, I'm in a happy mode and there is no one else around.
I had an excellent book on I.M. Training written by Gorge Bole in 1991. George was a Swim Coach A.S.C.A. Advanced Masters Qualified Coach in Britain. The book is called Mastering Masters Swimming and has an excellent section on Training and Coaching the I.M. Here is one of the I.M. workouts. Enjoy.
Swim 1 x 500y using all strokes - EZ
Swim 5 x 100y on 1:25 HOLD 1:16
Kick 16 x 50ym on 1:00. 4 each stroke I.M. order
Pull 5 x (100y Stroke + 100y F/S) on 3:30
Swim 8 x (25y Fly + 50y BK) on 1:20
Swim 5 x (25y BR + 75y F/S) on 1:40
Sprint 4 x 25y Stroke on :30
Swim 1 x 200y EZ F/S (swim down)
Total 4200y
In Australia, we have a program called the National Aerobics Trophy Program. It starts at 400m events (all strokes) and finishes as 1500m. Last year I completed all distances in both the 400, 800 and 1500m Butterfly. Parametric Training (intervals) was the way to train. Check out www.supersportsystems.com/index.asp
NOW, I'm back to scratch again, have moved home, lacking motivation and have greatly appreciated this Forum and the contacts who are giving me back my love of swimming. I love reading ALL of the posts. Good luck to you all.
Cheers,
Dawn
Happy Laps
Dawn:)
