I think swimming is consuming my life and I've been doing it for less than 3 weeks
Former Member
At first, I was on vacation and I saw my girlfriend swim a few laps and thought, "Gosh, I should really take some lessons and learn how to do that."
Then it was, "I should really do some online research to complement my lessons."
Then, "I might as well start participating in some of these swimming forums."
Then I needed more time to practice, so I started going to rec swims. I'm now getting a SECOND instructor for a different perspective in addition to my on-my-own rec swim time.
And all the time I'm not in the pool, I'm watching videos, reading forums and articles, learning about top swimmers, going out to buy goggles (tonight), and generally wanting to get back in the water and practice...
All this and I can barely frakken swim a length in anything other than backstroke! Jesus. I'm taking "addictive personality" to new levels here. What on earth did I do with my life before three weeks ago?
And what implications does this have for the rest of my life? The first 23 years on dry-land are looking more and more like a write-off in comparison to the satisfaction I get from being in the water -- when it isn't in my nose, ears, mouth, and eyes, that is.
I spent a lot of time on dry land practicing my dancing and these days, I teach it. Because my dancing is automatic -- I "just do it" without thinking -- I can't really remember what it was like NOT to be able to do it.
In the same sense, I've had a lot of people say to me, "You're just learning to swim now? I can't imagine what it would be like NOT to be able to swim." I think I can relate.
Alphathree,
If you want to get into swimming conditioning but are afraid your stroke will develop incorrectly until you get some good advice, try doing underwater drills. There is a drill called Under/Over. If you have not heard of this, let me know and I'll try to explain it in 10 words or less. These are anaerobic and build a swimmer's lungs to almost equal that of a small pony.
Donna
i could totally use lungs of a small pony! could you try and explain in 10 words or less?
thanks
Leonard:
Are you a runner and encyclopedia in addition to being a gourmet chef? This was most impressive. Still sounds like those undewater SDKs are helping my 50s though based on your last paragraph.
It is spelled "Reindell," BTW. They got an assist on this from Bannister's sometime British coach, Stampfl. I think actually Bannister may have used some interval training to help break the 4:00 mile barrier, and then Zatopek subsequently did intervals in large volumes at different intensities? At least that's what I recall offhand from reading The Lore of Running awhile ago.
I think actually Bannister may have used some interval training to help break the 4:00 mile barrier,...
If I remember correctly (I read his book as a teenager), Bannister's basic workout was 10 x 440 with each being at 60 sec. I don't recall the rest interval.
Whew! You are an encyclopedia. I like reading, but I can't do particle physics and I mix up dates. It's my mommy alzheimers. I didn't mean Stampfl had worked with them, but had been doing similar training things. I know that Alain Mimoun beat Emil Zatopek in the '56 Olympics! Zatopek was kind of old by then. (I've watched that Olympiad series with Bud Greenspan.)
I'll try again. I think that Herb Elliot smashed the Landy/Bannister times with workouts harder than Zatopek's? 17 sub-4:00 minute miles in 2 years. Then came Peter Snell. Then came Jim Ryun and Kip Keino and Marty Liquori. Then came John Walker and Filbert Bayi. Then came the three great British milers: Coe, Ovett and Cram. Steve Scott also ran around this time. Then came Nouriddine Morcelli. Then came El G.
Remember, if I got it wrong, it's due to MMA (multi-tasking mommy alzheimers)
I think we've hijacked this thread....
My son told me that Herb Elliot once saved his coach when he was caught in a rip tide. Herb "grabbed his hair and swam for four hours until the *%##**& ocean gave up."
Herb Elliot always talked about his sand dune running. He was a great runner.
I remember him in the cafeteria eating lots of steaks and fish. He used to put away a lot of icecream and whipping cream.
Had my first cafe latte at that cafeteria
Was this in Port Sea?
Well, I'm feeling pretty jolly to be in Emil Zatopek's company. That man practically invented interval training for runners. I'm still going to work on breath holding periodically. Ande says we don't really need any in a 50, and I'm still taking 3....
Actually, the scientific basis of interval training was first promoted by Gerschler and Reindell (sp?) in Germany in the mid-1930's. Their main claim to fame was the production of Rudolph Harbig, who demolished the 800 m record using their principles. (Harbig was killed in WWII.) Zatopek was, perhaps the most extreme famous example, however, of the strict interval principle of training. Intervals as the sole focus of training lost favor in the late 1950's/early 1960's when Arthur Lydiard's system first became popular. Lydiard's system was later eclipsed by the periodization principle, which first came out of Russia in 1964. Periodization is the current "last word" on training, in terms of physiology.
As to breath-holding: This was popular in track in the 1950's as a "next step" in the interval system, particularly in the so-called "Hungarian school" of training (coaches like Mihail Igoli). However, later studies showed that the only significant benefit was for anaerobic tolerance (e.g Perhaps for a hard 50 in swimming with fewer breaths.). It does NOT really help with aerobic development (i.e. no "lungs of a pony") and it does decrease capacity for muscular exertion as one's O2 gets depleted.
-LBJ
I was a lucky guy Roger Bannister, John Landy and Emill Zatopek met a had good conversations with all.
Roger the loner. John Landy the friendly guy who used to run the sand dunes I was in the hospital the day he stepped on the broken coke bottle and cut his foot a few days before Bannister and Landy ran the miracle mile.
Zatopek certainly the runner that all runners worshipped.
hey george, are you in mexico yet?Leaving in about an hour Chuckie and I were sick for a couple of weeks but better now and heading out today. Lunch then put the coffee maker in the mohome and drive. Thurs or Friday we will cross the border at Lukesville (2000 miles from home) Arizona, then overnite campground in Navajoa then to Melaque (1200 miles).
