To quote Gull: What is the right mix of technique and endurance for a Masters athlete (who wants to be competitive, say, at Nationals) with a finite amount of time to train?
fad :A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze.
evolution:A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.
semantic?
Very peevish of you. ;)
I believe "fad" was John's word, not mine.
Nonethleless, it's still somewhat semantic. I would point out that "fads" can be a subcategory of "evolution." "Fads" are part of the evolutionary "process." When a "fad" is temporarily embraced and then exposed as unworthy, that assessment furthers the process of evolution. Then, the hunt is on for a new technique or compromise position between "fad" and old/new technique in an attempt to find a "more complex and better form."
As to breaststroke, I would like to hear a breastroker weigh in because I think some of breaststroke "innovations" I previously listed seem to fall into the subcategory of "fads" or "short lived components" of evolution. For example, that super high breaststroke where Amanda Beard came out of the water almost to her belly button. Not universally embraced or used "by the vast majority of world class swimmers."
As to Phelps, I guess I gotta defend my family. At least on sprint butterfly, the "vast majority of world class swimmers" are not breathing every stroke. So, right now, it's still in the "fad" category, and might be a "problem" for some. (BTW, I believe my baby sister was using the word "problem" to describe the analysis in Dave's post, not Phelps' fly.) Maybe folks are still deciding whether it suits their style or not. Maybe they'll adapt the "fad" and breath every cycle for certain portions of certain races. It sure doesn't work for me on the 50. Nope, not at all. It's a real "problem" for me, and I've timed myself both ways. I do breathe more on a 100, but not every single stroke.
As to the "endurance" aspect of fly, which Terry kindly reminded us was the original theme (not that such a reminder is relevant; evolutionary thread tangents are commonplace), I got no problem with breathing every stroke on a 200 fly. That's probably how I'd swim it now to attempt to stave off immediate oxygen debt. That's not how I swam it when I was young and in shape though. But I'm good with breathing every stroke on distance fly. I'm mindful that that's probably good for many masters swimmers and maybe some world class ones too. Still not gonna try it out though. I'd lose count and I've been spending too much time on technique and not enough on engine building for that race. ;)
fad :A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze.
evolution:A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.
semantic?
Very peevish of you. ;)
I believe "fad" was John's word, not mine.
Nonethleless, it's still somewhat semantic. I would point out that "fads" can be a subcategory of "evolution." "Fads" are part of the evolutionary "process." When a "fad" is temporarily embraced and then exposed as unworthy, that assessment furthers the process of evolution. Then, the hunt is on for a new technique or compromise position between "fad" and old/new technique in an attempt to find a "more complex and better form."
As to breaststroke, I would like to hear a breastroker weigh in because I think some of breaststroke "innovations" I previously listed seem to fall into the subcategory of "fads" or "short lived components" of evolution. For example, that super high breaststroke where Amanda Beard came out of the water almost to her belly button. Not universally embraced or used "by the vast majority of world class swimmers."
As to Phelps, I guess I gotta defend my family. At least on sprint butterfly, the "vast majority of world class swimmers" are not breathing every stroke. So, right now, it's still in the "fad" category, and might be a "problem" for some. (BTW, I believe my baby sister was using the word "problem" to describe the analysis in Dave's post, not Phelps' fly.) Maybe folks are still deciding whether it suits their style or not. Maybe they'll adapt the "fad" and breath every cycle for certain portions of certain races. It sure doesn't work for me on the 50. Nope, not at all. It's a real "problem" for me, and I've timed myself both ways. I do breathe more on a 100, but not every single stroke.
As to the "endurance" aspect of fly, which Terry kindly reminded us was the original theme (not that such a reminder is relevant; evolutionary thread tangents are commonplace), I got no problem with breathing every stroke on a 200 fly. That's probably how I'd swim it now to attempt to stave off immediate oxygen debt. That's not how I swam it when I was young and in shape though. But I'm good with breathing every stroke on distance fly. I'm mindful that that's probably good for many masters swimmers and maybe some world class ones too. Still not gonna try it out though. I'd lose count and I've been spending too much time on technique and not enough on engine building for that race. ;)
