Advice Needed - Focus on endurance or technique?

Good post...we sound like we're around the same mark.

Dorianblade, Endurance is something the body can do for long periods of time. Stamina is something the body can do for short bursts of speed/yards in multiple sets on the clock. For some people, it takes longer to build stamina than for others. Granted, no one wants to just swim a 400 with poor technique, but you need to work on your aerobic base for swimming by challenging yourself. Stamina and aerobic conditioning are crucial for maintaining proper technique. So my vote is to work on stamina. And I do not mean to just swim some 200s and 400s. You need to be doing "sets" on a clock if you have one there at the pool. 6x75's; 8x50's; 16x25's; 75's going kick, swim, kick; 4x100's. Now these are just some examples; the sets can be mixed and matched to your abilities. You need to allow a rest period inbetween each swim on the set. And, to try to keep your swim times the same throughout the set. These will help with aerobic conditioning/stamina and they may be short enough in distance so you can maintain your stroke. Some of my most difficult workouts were those of very short yardage but of a "sprint" nature. There are a thousand combinations. Maybe some others will have some good ideas, too!!! Keep on swimming, Donna

Rich: Maybe you should use that dorkle/snorkle thing occasionally so that you can work on your stroke mechanics without worrying about breathing? I'm told it works well for that purpose. Of course, mine is sitting in my closet because I can't yet do flip turns with it... But I've seen college kids using them for freestyle. I think I recall Allen using it for breaststroke.

I think perfection of technique comes first. Surely you will find that in the quest for perfect technique you will also be developing your endurance...and with the improved technique you will need less endurance to accomplish an equal amount of work/yardage. I am ALWAYS aware of my technique, even in sprint sets. If I fatigue to the point of falling apart in a sprint I will end the set and either start kicking or do some easy free to allow my muscles to regenerate. Having said that, I don't think that slow paced swimming will get you very far with technique or endurance. Working on technique at a moderate pace is what has worked best for me. As I have said many times on here before though, everybody is different and what works for me may not be the best thing for you.

Great replies. I am starting to get more confident in pushing both my technique AND stamina and results are showing. I do get scared of lack of air/weak limb work/sinking and i can work on those things both by technique and simply pushing my body to swim longer! To answer you Donna, i'm doing a combination of some TI ideas along with Grant Hackett's and Lindasy Benko technique. I find theirs to be the most suitable for my style. I'm still trying to figure out the intracasies such as swimming on top or below the water... on top of the water certainly make me feel more powerful but i also feel less efficient. it all depends on the purpose i guess. Another thing is high elbow that hackett uses is amazing, but i find it hard to get good propulsion in the catch. like i said i enjoy the discoveries as much as i do the swim.

Dorianblade, I am just so glad that everyone's answers to your questions can help you. This is the bottom line and I know it can be confusing sometimes with so many different ideas about swimming. But swimming your own "theory" may be what is best. But as you get more proficient and your stroke becomes more technical and it is "yours", you will figure out things as you go. Don't be afraid of being out of breath or having those weak legs. I think we all go through that as our conditioning develops. I'll be posting something a little later about Swimming Theories where I am speaking of them, as well as asking questions. Maybe there will be a lot of good information under one big thread. After all, I don't have all the answers either!!! Donna

I hav used the head down, lengthening body aspect and rolling to breath and went from barely completeing 2x25y without needing David Hasselhoff; to now going 4x25y in quite good style and maybe just the last few strokes I stuggle with breath and stuff... It's not that I cant crawl I just want to do it better...and the techniques here and advice are all worth a look and finding what works.

Rich: Maybe you should use that dorkle/snorkle thing occasionally so that you can work on your stroke mechanics without worrying about breathing? I'm told it works well for that purpose. Of course, mine is sitting in my closet because I can't yet do flip turns with it... But I've seen college kids using them for freestyle. I think I recall Allen using it for breaststroke. Sprint Girl: I'm not a big fan of equpiment for swimmers. While I may see using paddles or fins as good for certain reasons...I would feel a total conspicious fool with a snorkel in a pool. I'll keep at it the traditional way, as I think learning to swim with not breathing will just give me another issue later...of course this is just my opinion for my style of learning. If it works for others that's great!

Do i keep working on establishing second-nature proper technique and keep doing 25/50 yards until i feel i'm ready to overcome long distance, or should i start working on endurance regardless of whatever technique faults i think i have at the moment. Simple answer: The better your technique now the farther you can go later. You can always build endurance, but an ingrained bad habit is like sanding wood: If you accidently sand against the grain once, you have to sand with it 10 times later to get the scratch out. -LBJ

Hi again Dorianblade, I know that my answer to your dilemna was to work on endurance/stamina, but as you mentioned your technique was coming along pretty well and your words indicated to me that you were having trouble with a swimming aerobic base. I do, absolutely, agree that technique is crucial and without it a person will never swim very well. Terry's Item #4 was the one I agree with. I, many times, assume that all swimmers are exhaling because, quite frankly, how could they not? Well, the "not" would prevent them from swimming any distances comfortably. And I missed the boat even when I read your words that you were so out of breath. Not exhaling will cause this. I still believe that as you work on technique, you can do small yardage sets on the clock. This may be the best of both worlds. And I do not know if you use a specific "swimming theory" for your technique. Do you swim using TI methods, on top of water, or your own combination of one or more? You might also want to consider doing anaerobic sets (swimming w/o oxygen), like some 25s pulling only. You could also work on your stroke doing those and because you won't be using your legs, the lack of oxygen will be much easier to tolerate. Gosh, if all of us could present swimming videos for other people to critique; sure would be so much eaiser than trying to explain through words!!! Donna