I have no coach, because we have no masters program. I use my own experince, this board and other web sites to find a work out. I do however have the opportunity for help with our local high school swim coach. Who is a master swimmer and a really good coach.
What does everyone do?
Do you coach yourself are you in a masters program?
And how many times a week do you swim and how far?
I'm up to 2000 yds each swim, swimming 3 times per week.
Former Member
No coach....I write my own workouts. After I try them out I use them on the kids I coach. Sometimes I even get in with them and do the workout with them. They like to try and keep up.:dedhorse:
The masters team at my Y only has two practices, Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Both difficult for me to make. So my coach is Coach Sue, Coach Lia, Coach Mel....I use the work-out forums a lot. I try to swim 4 times a week, about 2500-3000 yards in an hour. I don't always get there. This weekend I am preparing to run a 3-day age group invite, I have been at the pool.....but not to swim. Every once in a while, if there is room, I will hop in with my daughter's team, but there is limited pool space, and currently they are swim 8+ a lane. Not a good situation for teen bodies, lots of banging around. So I do what I can, when I can and supplement with cross training on land.
"I get massage and ART about twice a month to relieve subscapular tension. I've learned that my shoulders get tender if my subscap is tight. It gets tight even with good technique, simply because when you stroke correctly, it's the locus/connector for a lot of large-muscle loading." (posted by Terry on "who's got shoulder problems thread)
Terry:
Now, here you previously admitted that your shoulders get sore and tight. It isn't all biomechanics. I'm thinking your shoulders are happier than mine cuz you are getting more of that ART and massage stuff. :D I'm jealous! Leslie
yes, Leslie - i think I am doing those things. I'll correct that if I can. I hope I'm not the only one who has that problem. Thanks for getting back to me. You're so good with the quick responses. :banana:
What is your medical basis for this assertion? Shoulders get tired with swimming, that's a fact, and it's not due solely to poor biomechanics. It's no different from any other sport and the injuries unique to them, knees in football and baseball, backs in golf, shoulders in baseball/softball as well. Certainly better technique can ward off injury and that is the first step but it is naive to believe that biomechanics explain away all soreness/fatigue/injury.
I'm sure not gonna tell Jack Nicklaus he has poor biomechanics and that is why he has back problems.
The sports/injuries that you mention bear little similarity to the dynamics of swimming. Throwing a baseball/football, swinging a driver create a much greater shock to the body than any motion I repeat in the pool. (And running into 300+ lb linemen......)
Lisa
Are you clenching your fists? If so try to keeop your hands open and relaxed with your wrists loose to the point that your hands almost flop. Your arm swing should be low, hands brushing your hips. And no side to side swing, the motion should be in the direction of travel.
Here's a riddle for you - Why is swimming better than running?
Yes! So I should stop clenching? I can easily fix that.
Hmmm....swimming is better because you get wet? :cool:
David - what do you mean? Swimming or pulling with paddles for 2000 yards a practice yields LESS impact than throwing a baseball?
I would say yes. (it is rare to see a pitcher left in the game after 100 pitches)
How many strokes in a 2000 yard swim? (even with....dare i say.......paddles)
I think xc skiing would be the one sport that most accurately represents the muscle load of swimming, and I'm not sure that there is a typical injury that is associated with this sport.
I've often had the same questions and it will be interesting to see the advice that is offerred. I swim 5-6 days a week, and average 3000 yards per workout. I started swimming almost 7 years ago (with no prior swimming background) and was on my own until about 3 years ago. Then I had a coach until last spring but it was a distance coaching arrangement. Although it was nice not to have to worry about writing workouts, working out alone without having a coach on deck is not ideal. But it really helped me and I had significant improvement in my times. I've been coaching myself again since May. The workout forum is a great resource and I've drawn heavily from it to develop my training program for this year. The test will come soon as I'm swimming my 1st pool meet since then in 3 weeks.
Good luck to you.
You remind me it's time for an appointment. David and I are treated by the same ART guy. Dave's problem area is hamstrings (no "p" in hamstring) .
dam that spelchek
