What is the best way to work on your sprinting when most of your team workouts are geared toward distance (triathaletes) swimmers? I am trying to figure out how to start working on sprints but I also enjoy the distance as well (a learned responce).
I know it annoys my fellow teammates when people swim fast and then swim a slow active recovery while everyone else is trying to hold a pace, but I can't think of any other way to get my sprinting going without disrupting the others in my lane.
Any suggestions?
Former Member
when I was a distance swimmer I could swim sprints because ln winter I did my training by doing 50s and 100 repeats most of the time. I just did a lot more than I did when all I swam was a 100 in the games I competed in and occasional 200s on relays.
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I'll try sliding over a lane or 2 and get alittle more rest between sets while looking for opportunities to breakout.
Today I actually had opportunity to throw on the fins and lead one lane down. We were sprinting the first half or last half (alternating) of each 50. My teammate Steve said I really took off on that set. Even though it was hard it felt good to be more like a hydroplane than a tugboat! Maybe not a tugboat, maybe more like a powerboat on a joy ride.
I guess I'll have to do that atleast 2 times a week, with 2 days recovery swims (with alittle sprinting/starts/turns) and 2 days serious distance work.:D
I am a sprinter (out of laziness) but our coach is quite flexible and doesn’t mind when I sit out a 50 in long reps with better distance swimmers in my lane. (as Ande mentions)
Just as one example, if there are 250 repeats, I do the first and last 100 and sit out the middle 50. Be consistent in the set so you lane mates know what to expect. (let them know beforehand – you can even lead the lane)
By going faster for less distance and having more rest allows me to swim without disrupting the lane at all.
do aerobic work on slower intervals in slower lanes and get more rest
look for spots in your lane where you can open up and swim fast
you have to make sure you get what you need
skip laps here and there to get more rest
ande
Originally posted by Donna
What is the best way to work on your sprinting when most of your team workouts are geared toward distance (triathaletes) swimmers? I am trying to figure out how to start working on sprints but I also enjoy the distance as well (a learned responce).
I know it annoys my fellow teammates when people swim fast and then swim a slow active recovery while everyone else is trying to hold a pace, but I can't think of any other way to get my sprinting going without disrupting the others in my lane.
Any suggestions?
Today was one of my middle distance days (repeat 200's) but I did try a few sprints into and out of the walls only. Did not feel too strong today. My kicking set is feeling much better and stronger (when I do distance I have no kick!) and yes I did it without the fins and actually kept up with everyone else. I used to be the worst kicker in the world except for very short distances.
My back was too locked up to really get much of a quality sprint workout in but I managed to pop my hips back in place later in the morning. Perhaps tomorrow I will be loose enough to do some decent sprinting. Returning to swimming for me began as rehab for my back but my competitive nature has made it much more...
This weekend I will be swimming in a USA Swim meet and most of my events are sprints on Saturday and Sunday with the 1650 on Friday night. The goal is to break :30 for the 50 free but anything faster than a 31.5 will be ok too.
