I don't know if any of you have been following the new feature at the Swimming World website called "A day in the life" which has been following the daily routine (written by the subject) of various swimmers. It has been fascinating reading anyway, but now they feature a masters swimmer: Dennis Baker. We have expressed awe and admiration for his feats, now learn what he does to achieve his high level plus his life on a veritable coaching merry-go-round. And do note that most of his workouts are in meters. Day 2 has just been posted.
Kathy:
I think it totally depends on many factors such as whether you've been engine building, age, race distance, core strength, personal preference.
As for myself, if I'm swimming a 50, I try to breathe only 3-4 times. I'm now trying to stay underwater SDK-ing for awhile. (I can't do nearly the whole 15 meters on the second length though. Working on it.) On the 100, I would breathe every other stroke. I find I need the oxygen swimming the 100. I never do the 200 (see "whine" thread where I left you shoulder advice). That is left in my youth. In practice, I'd say unless I'm doing 25s or race pace 50s, I'm pretty much breathing every other stroke on most fly sets or IMs. But I'm sure others may be different, and they can weigh in. Good luck!
Fortress - Thanks for the advice and info. We are pretty much the same age. Since Fly is a struggle :laugh2: for me (oxygen-wise), I will be sticking with 50's (in competition) until I prove to myself that I have the same talent for Fly that I had at one time in breastroke (I will try to do a 100 in competition in March and see how close to my high school time I can get). I believe from what I am reading from you and others that my main emphasis needs to be on engine building for my Fly. Last Sunday I went to the pool by myself and in addition to other things, including 1 X 25yd Butterfly, did lots of SDK's (25y) all underwater with no breath. At least that was my goal and I was able to do most of them. I think if I can build my engine to only need one breath/25 of Fly I will feel much better about this stroke. My technique is good (unless I have to breathe a lot), otherwise my coach would not be pushing me in this direction. I just have to get used to using my shoulders this way. Thank for the shoulder advice on the 'Aches and Pains' thread. I will be doing some research on your suggestions. :agree:
Kathy:
I think it totally depends on many factors such as whether you've been engine building, age, race distance, core strength, personal preference.
As for myself, if I'm swimming a 50, I try to breathe only 3-4 times. I'm now trying to stay underwater SDK-ing for awhile. (I can't do nearly the whole 15 meters on the second length though. Working on it.) On the 100, I would breathe every other stroke. I find I need the oxygen swimming the 100. I never do the 200 (see "whine" thread where I left you shoulder advice). That is left in my youth. In practice, I'd say unless I'm doing 25s or race pace 50s, I'm pretty much breathing every other stroke on most fly sets or IMs. But I'm sure others may be different, and they can weigh in. Good luck!
Fortress - Thanks for the advice and info. We are pretty much the same age. Since Fly is a struggle :laugh2: for me (oxygen-wise), I will be sticking with 50's (in competition) until I prove to myself that I have the same talent for Fly that I had at one time in breastroke (I will try to do a 100 in competition in March and see how close to my high school time I can get). I believe from what I am reading from you and others that my main emphasis needs to be on engine building for my Fly. Last Sunday I went to the pool by myself and in addition to other things, including 1 X 25yd Butterfly, did lots of SDK's (25y) all underwater with no breath. At least that was my goal and I was able to do most of them. I think if I can build my engine to only need one breath/25 of Fly I will feel much better about this stroke. My technique is good (unless I have to breathe a lot), otherwise my coach would not be pushing me in this direction. I just have to get used to using my shoulders this way. Thank for the shoulder advice on the 'Aches and Pains' thread. I will be doing some research on your suggestions. :agree:
