What's more important: striving for maximal health/fitness and a long life or setting WRs or national records or team records in swimming?
I think the latter is overrated. I'm all for improving one's stroke and striving for PBs. Who isn't? PBs produce euphoria and pride and keep you on the path to improvement. But I wonder if restorative, technique based workouts that might help you improve in swimming and/or achieve world or local fame really help make one extremely fit or improve one's health? I think someone referred to Gary Hall as doing "sprinter" type high intensity training and doing his aerobic/strength training outside the pool, which seems perfectly sound. He's getting it all in. I think you need to get it all in and work hard. You gotta break a sweat. A lot. Frequently.
So will TI-ing your life away and looking pretty make you as fit as you can be? Isn't there something to be said for hard training? Not necessarily because it will improve your 50 free (everyone seems to agree it won't), but just to improve health, mental outlook, physical well being and keep the bod hot and the spouse interested? Plus, if you're a distance swimmer you gotta have some endurance. Talent and technique only get you so far, at least IMHO.
I just thought we were supposed to exercise more, and more intensely for optimal health.
Mr. Grinch......I guess my thinking is simply differant than yours (and others)....I'm one of those people that rarely sees things in either/or, black/white.....so your question of what is most important for me would really be more of a "sliding scale".
From that perspective I've been able to achieve my main goal; health/fitness, enjoy the social aspect of the multiple sports I participate in (#2) and along the way snag a few records (personal & team).....#3. This process also directs my training.....it doesn't have to be technique vs. power.
And Ms. Fortress.....I'm with you on the endurance vs. sprint internal debate....I love to ride (cycle)...I can't run to the bathroom, but do run stadiums once a week, lift 2x a week, yoga 1-2x a week.....so again I'm getting a bit of it all....and as for competing I cycle every few seasons from sprint to mid-distance....next year its back to mid-D.
I guess its all about achieving balance in life.....
Mr. Grinch......I guess my thinking is simply differant than yours (and others)....I'm one of those people that rarely sees things in either/or, black/white.....so your question of what is most important for me would really be more of a "sliding scale".
From that perspective I've been able to achieve my main goal; health/fitness, enjoy the social aspect of the multiple sports I participate in (#2) and along the way snag a few records (personal & team).....#3. This process also directs my training.....it doesn't have to be technique vs. power.
And Ms. Fortress.....I'm with you on the endurance vs. sprint internal debate....I love to ride (cycle)...I can't run to the bathroom, but do run stadiums once a week, lift 2x a week, yoga 1-2x a week.....so again I'm getting a bit of it all....and as for competing I cycle every few seasons from sprint to mid-distance....next year its back to mid-D.
I guess its all about achieving balance in life.....
