I have been swimming for 50 years and have had 3 swim injuries. I know of some great, great swimmers who have been doing the same and remain untouched. How do they do this? If it is because their greatness is due to technique, they sure need to share. But I also wonder if it is because they swim smart, train smart, know their limitations and train accordingly. Do they listen to their bodies first and train second? Something many people don't do, me included in the past.
I've watched Laura Val (The Machine) and heard of Susan Heim Brown. I am amazed.
Is it also stroke related?. I know I swam only backstroke for 40 years and voila, 1993 rotator cuff surgery; 1995 impingement surgery; 1996 torn SI joint (sigh). And I learned technique very early on by world class coaches and swimmers; we did all the right things and were doing hip rotation back in the 60s before a lot of swimming folks were doing it.
Any thoughts on how this comes to be for some and not others?
Donna
Thoughts? and the reason I am mentioning this is if I am to train and try to swim 18 miles, how many miles do I have to swim first to feel good and really swim that distance? I mean, who ever heard of a warmup before an 18 mile swim? I haven't!!
Donna
I would venture to say that for a swim of that duration the first few minutes of the swim would adequately serve as a warmup. Perhaps something similiar to how I used to warm up for a long run....real slow and easy at first then transition to planned pace as your muscles become accustomed to it.
When I used to run I even used to warm up for a marathon by spending 15-20 minutes of easy jogging and acceleration runs. That way I was ready to go right to my race pace (6:00 min/mi) at the start.
Thoughts? and the reason I am mentioning this is if I am to train and try to swim 18 miles, how many miles do I have to swim first to feel good and really swim that distance? I mean, who ever heard of a warmup before an 18 mile swim? I haven't!!
Donna
I would venture to say that for a swim of that duration the first few minutes of the swim would adequately serve as a warmup. Perhaps something similiar to how I used to warm up for a long run....real slow and easy at first then transition to planned pace as your muscles become accustomed to it.
When I used to run I even used to warm up for a marathon by spending 15-20 minutes of easy jogging and acceleration runs. That way I was ready to go right to my race pace (6:00 min/mi) at the start.
