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.
to add to John's points
if you do less aerobic work in the pool
ie ( long hard swims with not much rest)
then you won't get as broken down
which will allow you keep lifting and improve on weights
you'll get stronger in the weight room
which will hopefully make you faster in the pool
provided you are doing
technique work,
sprints, and
race simulations in the pool
also remember the paradox of training
the more training you do in the near term
the more it will hurt you in the short term and
help you in the long term
the less training you do in the near term
the more it will help you in the short term and
hurt you in the long term
ande
to add to John's points
if you do less aerobic work in the pool
ie ( long hard swims with not much rest)
then you won't get as broken down
which will allow you keep lifting and improve on weights
you'll get stronger in the weight room
which will hopefully make you faster in the pool
provided you are doing
technique work,
sprints, and
race simulations in the pool
also remember the paradox of training
the more training you do in the near term
the more it will hurt you in the short term and
help you in the long term
the less training you do in the near term
the more it will help you in the short term and
hurt you in the long term
ande
