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
Terry:
I was merely objecting, and not very strenuously, on a general definitional level to calling sprinting a "start and turn" sport instead of part of the sport of "swimming." A lot of distance folks say this about sprinters, and it gets a little tiresome, that's all. I'm sure you understand the tiresome point.
So I don't think I misread or misinterpreted your post. Maybe you did mine. Or maybe we missed each other's points. I just quoted your description of sprinting and noted that swimming includes sprinting. I wasn't attempting anything more in depth. As you noted, you then proceeded to mention your target audience - - health and fitness swimmers. But I wasn't really refering to them at all. I was just making the very minor and narrow point that sprinters are swimmers too --whether they are NCAA Div I or age group sprinters or USMS sprinters. Personally, I enjoy the power training as much as integration training. Everyone finds "pleasure" in swimming in different ways. Integration training isn't per se more pleasurable; it depends on your own perspective and preference. Also, I know many sprinters who train extremely hard. Others who grow up and take to the open water, etc.
Us poor sprinters just take it on the chin a lot. But as a former distance runner, I never denigrated the sprinters I saw at masters running events. Some of them were unbelievable. Not to say I don't enjoy watching longer races and triathlons more...
But it's good to know that I'm supposed to be using fins when I'm sprint training.
Terry:
I was merely objecting, and not very strenuously, on a general definitional level to calling sprinting a "start and turn" sport instead of part of the sport of "swimming." A lot of distance folks say this about sprinters, and it gets a little tiresome, that's all. I'm sure you understand the tiresome point.
So I don't think I misread or misinterpreted your post. Maybe you did mine. Or maybe we missed each other's points. I just quoted your description of sprinting and noted that swimming includes sprinting. I wasn't attempting anything more in depth. As you noted, you then proceeded to mention your target audience - - health and fitness swimmers. But I wasn't really refering to them at all. I was just making the very minor and narrow point that sprinters are swimmers too --whether they are NCAA Div I or age group sprinters or USMS sprinters. Personally, I enjoy the power training as much as integration training. Everyone finds "pleasure" in swimming in different ways. Integration training isn't per se more pleasurable; it depends on your own perspective and preference. Also, I know many sprinters who train extremely hard. Others who grow up and take to the open water, etc.
Us poor sprinters just take it on the chin a lot. But as a former distance runner, I never denigrated the sprinters I saw at masters running events. Some of them were unbelievable. Not to say I don't enjoy watching longer races and triathlons more...
But it's good to know that I'm supposed to be using fins when I'm sprint training.
