In another thread, the Fortress mentioned that her former coach thought that 25,000 yards or meters was a so-called "tipping point" for real aerobic conditioning/fitness in swimming. What does everyone think? It seems like a lot of yardage that is probably not necessarily for a pure sprinter. But what if you're a distance or OW geek or swimming the 400 IM or 200 fly? Is 25,000 the magic number? It seems like many forumites must be hitting that number because I have read about quite a few 5,000+ workouts. So, what is the "tipping point?"
For myself, it seems to be "around" 16-20,000yds/week. but we all need to remember that in reality it's really a heartrate/time dependent issue. You can swim leisurely for days on end, lots and lots of miles and never arrive at a "real aerobic conditioning/fitness" level.
Peter: I bet you were at that tipping point during your mega-meet heyday easily! You were probably tipping and upchucking simultaneously.
Some context: My first coach was a fabulous guy who gave me lots of individual attention in an informal masters group, and is the reason I am a somewhat decent master swimmer today. He is a 27 year old former Olympic trialist who used to race Nesty and swam with Bauerle at Georgia before doubles/mega yardage resulted in shoulder surgery and ruined his college career. He was a very good 100 fly/free/back guy who was really into TI. (Note: no breaststroke) He knew his stuff. (I'm trying to get him to join my current team as a "masters" swimmer, but he's very busy at work and isn't sure he's ready to do what's necessary to get in shape.)
When he gave me the 25,000 yard "tipping point," he was trying to get me to do more yardage. I was hovering around 12,000, maybe at most 15,000 then. He thought it was fine that I seemed to be a drop dead sprinter. (He loved the 50 free.) But at the time, I wanted to try some other events, especially the 200 IM. But I didn't want to do it slowly just to do a masters PB. (Dave :thhbbb: ). So he told me if I wanted to have some really bang up 100s (especially fly) and some fast 200s, I needed to do 25,000 -- in the manner that Jim describes: real heart rate stuff, no lazing around. (I read somewhere that this is Laura Val's yardage.) Having swum for another 8 months since he moved on, I still have the sense that personally, I would need to do Jim's yardage range, maybe on the upper side to have really decent 200s. Just my sense. Not going to get there just now. One day I'll do that 200 IM.
For myself, it seems to be "around" 16-20,000yds/week. but we all need to remember that in reality it's really a heartrate/time dependent issue. You can swim leisurely for days on end, lots and lots of miles and never arrive at a "real aerobic conditioning/fitness" level.
Peter: I bet you were at that tipping point during your mega-meet heyday easily! You were probably tipping and upchucking simultaneously.
Some context: My first coach was a fabulous guy who gave me lots of individual attention in an informal masters group, and is the reason I am a somewhat decent master swimmer today. He is a 27 year old former Olympic trialist who used to race Nesty and swam with Bauerle at Georgia before doubles/mega yardage resulted in shoulder surgery and ruined his college career. He was a very good 100 fly/free/back guy who was really into TI. (Note: no breaststroke) He knew his stuff. (I'm trying to get him to join my current team as a "masters" swimmer, but he's very busy at work and isn't sure he's ready to do what's necessary to get in shape.)
When he gave me the 25,000 yard "tipping point," he was trying to get me to do more yardage. I was hovering around 12,000, maybe at most 15,000 then. He thought it was fine that I seemed to be a drop dead sprinter. (He loved the 50 free.) But at the time, I wanted to try some other events, especially the 200 IM. But I didn't want to do it slowly just to do a masters PB. (Dave :thhbbb: ). So he told me if I wanted to have some really bang up 100s (especially fly) and some fast 200s, I needed to do 25,000 -- in the manner that Jim describes: real heart rate stuff, no lazing around. (I read somewhere that this is Laura Val's yardage.) Having swum for another 8 months since he moved on, I still have the sense that personally, I would need to do Jim's yardage range, maybe on the upper side to have really decent 200s. Just my sense. Not going to get there just now. One day I'll do that 200 IM.
