I'm trying to determine what level of strength is required to be a good sprinter (i.e. 100 free).
Could you list your max repetitions of push ups, pull ups and dips? This would give me some assesment on power to weight ratio and strength endurance.
Also, what is your max bench press if you know it? or reps of 225 lbs. I'm curious about what level of pure strength sprinters have.
I think I am deficient mostly in technique and then strength endurance but maybe this post would show me I need weight room work.
Paul,
Correct, I am measuring every time his left enters. So while Thorpe is at 30 strokes for 50 meters, I am about 45. Should I be concerned about this?
You say for yourself:
Typically for a 50 I'll move up to about 15-16, 100 is in the 12-13 range and 200+ 10-11. I try and maintain the 200+ spl in warm up, warm down and on most aerobic based sets.
So you are much closer to Thorpe's count.
Since I am largely uncoached except for some feedback from a fast guy at my pool, this feedback is what I rely on for advice.
I think its worth looking at.....there are a lot of factors to take into account as we've all been discussing such as body type and strengths/weaknesses.
Also.....although I disagree with George on SPL being important for sprints, his beleifs have merit...there are world class swimmers with absolutely incredible turnover....
As for me....keep in mind I'm no where close to Thorpe's speed/excellance....however we're close in height/weight/arm span and more 200/400 based than 50/100 so it makes some sense we'd have similar SPL.
I really shouldn't speak about free but I think some things are generalizable. *** in a 25 yd pool my SPL is 9 at 50 pace,7at 100 pace and 5-6 at 200 pace.For Lindsay re;racing stroke,I read that the average swimmer thinks he/she they has better form at meets than in workouts,but in fact their form is worse. Fort,re: technique and shoulder problems,I saw a new PT and he said"you have shoulder problems because you have poor neck flexibility which is decreasing the ROM of your scapula and hurting your shoulder." We are working on helping my neck and my shoulder is getting better. Neck stiffness is not a technique problem in any way i can figure out.:dedhorse:
Donna...with regard to TI....(man a 3rd referance in one day!)...I think many have said the same thing...that Terry has done a great job in repackaging a lot of things that are considered common sense to elite coaches/athletes.....I see the stuff he advocates used all the time in programs I have a chance to spend time around....
So to that end I would say that yes many of these practices/drills/concepts in TI are in use by WR setting swimmers (masters & USS)...the concepts he talks about and has created in a sense are a new "language" that some people seem to "hear" better....and others get high blood pressure from...Yo Fort! :woot:
Fort,re: technique and shoulder problems,I saw a new PT and he said"you have shoulder problems because you have poor neck flexibility which is decreasing the ROM of your scapula and hurting your shoulder." We are working on helping my neck and my shoulder is getting better. Neck stiffness is not a technique problem in any way i can figure out.:dedhorse:
I'm glad you're working it out! Doesn't seem like a technique problem to me either. :dedhorse: My doctor tells me mine isn't either, except I'm always willing to fess up to freestyle flaws.
Yo Smith!
Did you see how TI :smooch: my last post was? It probably made Geek ill. You ole forum baiter, you. I get high blood pressure over shoulders. Just like you get high blood presssure over the inability to drink pinot noir and people leaving doggy poo.
RTodd:
Yes, to all three, except I am very slow compared to Mr. 20.9. And I don't like to count strokes much. I'll stick to TI drills. I'd rather count SDKs. I'm kinda with George on the SPL thing. I speed up when sprinting and slow down when I'm not.
I think the thread morphed, because what came out of the discussion was not alot of concern over strength, at least not the primary concern. I think I have the strength (notice I stay away from saying strength endurance, which I believe is born out of lactic acid training). I think I buffer lactic acid reasonably well from running so I probably don't have the technique.
Can you generalize SPL based on body type? I am 6'2", 185 lbs (should be 175) and I just measured my span at 76.5".
In running there is a turn over and stride length differrence based on height. Is there any such correlation in swimming?
I will start paying closer attention to SPL.
SPL probably the most useless thing you can waste your time with when sprinting, the secret is to get there first and not worry about the stroke count. I never would give a thought to how fast I was turning over. Make the stroke efficient and complete and be in front of the second place swimmer.
George I'm sure that may be the case for an elite, established swimmer such as yourself......however I think there is absolute merit in evaluating SPL especially for someone new to the sport and who in all likleyhood may be wasting a lot of effort spinning.
As for me personally.....although I swam thru high school and college when I got back into masters I basically forgot how to sprint. My best 50 in the 40-44 age group I think was around 21.6 before John & Rowdy corraled me into focusing on tha race for Indy a few years back...With a lot of focus on just what you pooh poohed I dropped to 20.9......
That must have been incredibly depressing for you. ;)
