I just saw the Fortress post something about Karlyn Pipes-Nielson having designed some new lightweight fins under, I think, the who wants to race which poster thread.
I thought I had read where swim devices were taboo; that it was better to use the entire body to enjoy full-body swimming and that there was little to no benefit to the use of fins (can't remember who wrote that).
Well, I use fins, two kinds; Zoomers, and some big lightweight ones with holes in them. They create great ankle flexibility; much better than sitting in front of the TV stretching them. My backstroke kick all through the 60s, 70s, 80s would not have been great without my kicking with fins. I find that fins help to develop quad and hamstring strength.
I need a new pair for Christmas. Anyone else use fins?
Donna
I think intellegent.stroke specific weight lifting will definitrly help at distances of 200 and below even LCM. I doubt Terry is disagreeing with that. Yes neural-muscle integration is important,but muscle is definitely part of that equation. Terry,I'm afraid your dark meat/light meat analogy is overly simplistic and can lead to an inferance I believe to be inaccurate. It is my understanding that there are 3 main muscle fiber types(with sub-types) Fast twitch,Slow twitch,and an intermediate type that can become more fast twitch or slow depending on training. All fibers metabolise carbohydrates and fat. Fat gives more energy per gram,but takes more oxygen per gram. When there is plenty of oxygen fat metabolism predominates. Speed up so that there is not enough oxygen available at the muscle to burn fat and carbohydrate metabolism predominates.Slow twitch fibers have a better blood supply and twitch slower so they will change to predominantly carb metabolism later. Long slow swims will burn more fat during the swim,but recovery will be quick. Fast swimming will burn more calories is the swim and in the recovery and the fat burned in total will be greater.
I think intellegent.stroke specific weight lifting will definitrly help at distances of 200 and below even LCM. I doubt Terry is disagreeing with that. Yes neural-muscle integration is important,but muscle is definitely part of that equation. Terry,I'm afraid your dark meat/light meat analogy is overly simplistic and can lead to an inferance I believe to be inaccurate. It is my understanding that there are 3 main muscle fiber types(with sub-types) Fast twitch,Slow twitch,and an intermediate type that can become more fast twitch or slow depending on training. All fibers metabolise carbohydrates and fat. Fat gives more energy per gram,but takes more oxygen per gram. When there is plenty of oxygen fat metabolism predominates. Speed up so that there is not enough oxygen available at the muscle to burn fat and carbohydrate metabolism predominates.Slow twitch fibers have a better blood supply and twitch slower so they will change to predominantly carb metabolism later. Long slow swims will burn more fat during the swim,but recovery will be quick. Fast swimming will burn more calories is the swim and in the recovery and the fat burned in total will be greater.
