I would like to hear thoughts on strength training for masters swimming. Here are a few questions of interest to me and also, I hope, to other forum members:
1. Is dry land strength transferable to the water? As far as I know, this is a very controversial question. The answer to this primary question is of the utmost importance. I remember reading that the great Australian coach Forbes Carlile didn't let Kieren Pierkins weight train because he felt that the answer to this question was no. Pierkins was the first swimmer to break 15:00 in the 1500m.
2. Most of us master swimmers have very busy professional carrers and our time is limited. So - should we cut into pool time to strength train?
3. If we conclude that strength training is beneficial to the swimmer then what method of strength training to employ? Free weights, machines, cables, cords, bodyweight exercises - combinations of these?
I have some more questions but I think that this is enough for openers.
Parents
Former Member
Weights will help your taper tremendously. Mid season, they absolutely destroy you in the water, and make you proportionately more fatigued. In addition, a hard workout in the pool really makes it difficult to lift heavy in the weight room the next day. But, at the end of the season, the taper is magnified when the weights are cut out of the routine and combined with speed work and reduced yardage. The 50,100 and 200s certainly benefit from weights 2-3 days a week.
John Smith
Weights will help your taper tremendously. Mid season, they absolutely destroy you in the water, and make you proportionately more fatigued. In addition, a hard workout in the pool really makes it difficult to lift heavy in the weight room the next day. But, at the end of the season, the taper is magnified when the weights are cut out of the routine and combined with speed work and reduced yardage. The 50,100 and 200s certainly benefit from weights 2-3 days a week.
John Smith
