The latest threads clearly reveal that the vast majority of masters swimmers wish breaststroke did not exist (except Peter, Allen, Aquafeisty, and a possiblely experimenting SCY freestyler). So why does everyone hate breaststroke? :mad:
I'll go first. I hated it when I was young because it was too slow, I never learned how to do it right, and I never learned the wave action because it didn't exist when I was young. I can't seem do get the timing right now. And I have no excuse. Unlike my shoulder, my knees are fully intact. Not sure I have the gumption or time to put in 100,000 yards for a complete overhaul on a stroke I don't swim in meets. But I'd like to be able to fake it in IMs ...
AquaFeisty:
I agree. Most masters programs have "ready go" coaches that don't coach the strokes. My team actually does a lot of stroke/IM work because we don't have that many triathletes, but we never focus on getting the breaststroke right. (But we only have a couple breaststrokers -- again, my point about there not being many.) When I grew up, we separated age groupers into sprinters, strokers and distance free. I wish masters groups would do that instead of the fast to slow lane breakdown. I feel no need to anything over a 200 free no matter "how good" it's supposed to be for me. (I was told this the day we did 3 x 1000 ---yuck).
Chlorini:
I am actually a vocal distance free hater. I always say, "oh no, not another 400 free." I'd much rather work on *** than pounding out junk yardage doing long free. I agree with what someone said on another thread -- if you're going to swim the 1500 free, it should be in open water.
Lindsay:
Exactly right. Breaststroke requires a ton of energy to do it correctly. I find myself gasping for breath even though I'm technically breathing every stroke. Just thinking about how exhausting it is makes me want a :coffee: .
AquaFeisty:
I agree. Most masters programs have "ready go" coaches that don't coach the strokes. My team actually does a lot of stroke/IM work because we don't have that many triathletes, but we never focus on getting the breaststroke right. (But we only have a couple breaststrokers -- again, my point about there not being many.) When I grew up, we separated age groupers into sprinters, strokers and distance free. I wish masters groups would do that instead of the fast to slow lane breakdown. I feel no need to anything over a 200 free no matter "how good" it's supposed to be for me. (I was told this the day we did 3 x 1000 ---yuck).
Chlorini:
I am actually a vocal distance free hater. I always say, "oh no, not another 400 free." I'd much rather work on *** than pounding out junk yardage doing long free. I agree with what someone said on another thread -- if you're going to swim the 1500 free, it should be in open water.
Lindsay:
Exactly right. Breaststroke requires a ton of energy to do it correctly. I find myself gasping for breath even though I'm technically breathing every stroke. Just thinking about how exhausting it is makes me want a :coffee: .
