training for lcm in a scm pool

In the latest issue of USMS Swimmer magazine there's a good article about open water swimming. Among the points which were raised...Terry Laughlin discussed some very interesting differences and distinctions between short course swimming and long course meters. Specifically, he commented on an article by Jonty Skinner...regarding how long course swimmers have an adapted stroke. "A faster more forceful stroke can generate more speed in in short burst but is too taxing for sustained swimming. A high speed high-force stroke may be advantageous in 25-yard pool because top swimmers spend relatively little time swimming. During a minute of short course racing, athletes could spend as little as 43 seconds swimming and 17 seconds "not-swimming", allowing them time to recover from bursts of aggressive stroking. In a 50 meter pool, the swimmer might spend 53 seconds swimming and only 7 seconds "not swimming", necessitating a more economical technique." In my personal experience...after training long course in the summers as a youth...I always perceived the 25 yard pool to be a bathtub when returning to school. The cadence of your long course stroke is much different. Long course to yards translates very well....the other way around is always a challenge. But it can make you a better swimmer.

In the latest issue of USMS Swimmer magazine there's a good article about open water swimming. Among the points which were raised...Terry Laughlin discussed some very interesting differences and distinctions between short course swimming and long course meters. Specifically, he commented on an article by Jonty Skinner...regarding how long course swimmers have an adapted stroke. "A faster more forceful stroke can generate more speed in in short burst but is too taxing for sustained swimming. A high speed high-force stroke may be advantageous in 25-yard pool because top swimmers spend relatively little time swimming. During a minute of short course racing, athletes could spend as little as 43 seconds swimming and 17 seconds "not-swimming", allowing them time to recover from bursts of aggressive stroking. In a 50 meter pool, the swimmer might spend 53 seconds swimming and only 7 seconds "not swimming", necessitating a more economical technique." In my personal experience...after training long course in the summers as a youth...I always perceived the 25 yard pool to be a bathtub when returning to school. The cadence of your long course stroke is much different. Long course to yards translates very well....the other way around is always a challenge. But it can make you a better swimmer.