I think swimming is consuming my life and I've been doing it for less than 3 weeks

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. I watched Bannister doing 220 and 440 repeats on the track, he loved to just run on the grass at University of BC. It was very giving and spongey.

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). Phew! For a minute I thought Lisa meant you were swimming down!!:rofl:

:joker: that would be some swim.

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 was a runner/racewalker/coach before injuring myself in a fall and having to learn to swim at a late age to keep active. I'm also a voracious reader for things I am interested in, like training theory. (Right now it's particle physics...) Actually, Zatopek mostly preceeded Bannister. Zatopek medaled in the '48 (10k gold, 5k silver) & '52 (5k, 10k, marathon gold) Olympics (and got 6th in the marathon in '56, I believe), but Bannister's 4 minute mile was in 1954. Bannister's method of training was to do a good # of intervals, but his training was actually of less volume and greater intensity than Zatopek's - It had to be because he had a medical student's schedule. People don't realize that much of Zatopek's training, even though in interval format, actually had the net benefit of distance training. He might do 50X400 meters, but the intensity was lower, with shorter rest, than say, most swimmers would consider a true interval. (BTW, as originally defined, the word "interval" actually refered to the time BETWEEN efforts, and was based on heart rate; not time.) Zatopek would, during bad winter days, put clothes in the bathtub and "run" in place stepping on the clothes to wash them. I don't think Franz Stampfl worked with G&R - he would have been quite young in the mid-30's (approx early 20's) and I think he left Austria for Australia by the mid-30's, too boot. -LBJ

I was a runner/racewalker/coach before injuring myself in a fall and having to learn to swim at a late age to keep active. I'm also a voracious reader for things I am interested in, like training theory. (Right now it's particle physics...) posted by Leonard Jansen Particle Physics eh? Another Dr. Mattson type I suppose.....Maybe its time you found an interest that presents some kind of a mental challenge instead of all these mindless endeavors you keep falling into LBJ....Just a thought thats all. BTW Have they found the ever elusive graviton yet??....LOL!!....Particle colliders just aren't powerful enough yet I guess??

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

Cardiff, Wales, 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. At St Athens air base near Cardiff.

This is one of those things that has the feel of folklore, rather than science, to me. I can't claim detailed understanding of pulmonary function but I'm instinctively skeptical that one can increase pulmonary capacity by doing underwater swimming. I'm sure one can increase breath-holding capacity, but what's the benefit to doing that - other than in racing the 50 Free and it doesn't sound as if that's alphathree's goal right now. If it was I'd suggest he practice swimming 25 and 50 freestyle repeats with limited breathing frequency, rather than underwater swimming. But you don't see any elite swimmer holding their breath while racing. This distinction is what I've experienced. I don't feel that swimming underwater "increases pulmonary capacity." I do feel like it is decent practice for holding my breath though. But I don't usually do it for that specific purpose. I usually do underwater SDKs to practice my SDKs for fly. Hopefully, I am not being too awkward. Hopefully, it will help my 50 free as a nice side benefit.

Holding breath so many of the greats have done it. Emil Zatopek the great runner did it during training and every great swimmer has done it at one time or another. /quote] 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.... P.S. George, you do have to admit that Emil Zatopek had about the most awkward looking running style ever. He won based on hard work, mental discipline and high pain tolerance.

I really try to practice a few 25s underwater each practice to work on my SDK and holding my breath. I do them both on my front and on my back. I think it helps my speed underwater, my tight streamline, abs, and legs. I think it's great to at least be able to hold my breath underwater for a 25, it ensures I can get the most of my underwater after turns and off the start, and it is comforting to know I won't be huffing and puffing when I come up for air with the first stroke.