I'm new and have been catching up on reading. I don't have a lot of swimming experience and am swimming masters and not in college. But there are a couple things I just don't get.
1. Many posters seem very concerned about technique, but are still really focused on what is referred to as "engine buiding" and on power lifting and things that might not help their swimming as much. What is the lure of engine building exactly besides the endorphins? I guess you need it for certain events? I'm not saying this very well, but it seems like some people are working out harder than they should be? Why?
2. I read one of Ande's latest tips about sprinters on masters teams that ususlly focus on mid to long distance. Does this mean that sprinters should work out alone? I haven't really decided what I am yet, but my team does seem to focus more on distance stuff and long hard sets. Do any masters teams have sprint lanes or just lanes with different intervals?
Thanks. :)
Former Member
there was thread that discussed this before talk of vessel shaping vs engine building.
I view it as every vessel needs a good engine.
So shape your vessel well, by learning good techniques and body position. (body composition e.g. fat vs muscle is important too). A well shaped vessel will go further than a poorly shaped vessel with an equal source of power.
Engine building is traing you body to kick and pull hard and or long periods so that you don't tire, and thus stay strong in the race.
Sprinting requires a fast engine that can stay fast over a short distance and then recover for the next sprint event.
Hope that helps. I'm fairly new too.
PS Jessie..put your shirt on. :laugh2:
Ande's first tip had to do with the fact you have to swim fast to swim fast. I think that once you have an aerobic base you need to do race pace work. Clearly if you are trainong for the 500 your race pace will be slower than if you are training for the 50,so you will need less rest between swims to maintain race pace. I find for myself that lifting weights has really helped me improve my events(50,100,200 ***.) Intererstingly when I started lifting weights regularly my 200 Breaststroke showed the most improvement.
"Believe it or not, you can train to race 50s by doing sprints of half that distance in practice. Apart from warm-up and warm-down, this need be your only set. It is staggeringly simple: 8 x 25 kick, a full recovery, and then 16 x 25 swim. The key is to use long rest intervals, with a work-to-rest ratio of at least 1:4. Otherwise, lactate build-up will hamper your explosiveness."
Woo hoo! That looks like a fun quality workout! I may have to do that this week! :groovy:
Here we go again,everyone knows that their favorite event is the best event. Why don't we just agree we are all swimmers and are all right from a certain perspective(and that Rich and I are just a little more right because were breaststrokers:woot: :woot: :woot: :rofl: :rofl: :banana:
Here we go again,everyone knows that their favorite event is the best event. Why don't we just agree we are all swimmers and are all right from a certain perspective(and that Rich and I are just a little more right because were breaststrokers:woot: :woot: :woot: :rofl: :rofl: :banana:
No, Mr. Little More Right! :thhbbb: My favorite event is not the one I said was the Holy Grail. I never loved the 400 IM best. I just imagine it as the Holy Grail because it requires a highly versatile well conditioned swimmer. (Isn't that why the winner of the 400 IM has been called the "King of Swimming?" e.g., Tom Dolan) My favorite event nowadays is a good old 50 dixie cup. But I would never say that was the "best" one. (I'm sure Good Smith will say that.) I do enjoy watching the 50s of course. Raw speed in action, etc. But I also enjoy watching ones that have a little endurance and mental tenacity thrown in there with speed and power.
:dedhorse:
Fort....the 200 free is the "Holy Grail" of swimming....speed, power, endurance and tons of lactic all rolled into one!
I agree with you! The 200 free is "controlled speed"! It is a very challenging race that you have to swim consistently to know how to pace it correctly......cause boy does it hurt if you swim it wrong....actually it always hurts! If you pace it right, its not as bad.
Yes, 100 ***...finally you agree! :D
No, I was referring to the 200 free my FAF Twin Beth is swimming. :thhbbb: That is a tough event. I think it's only for true freestylers like Paul and Beth. Those of us who only fake a 50 free don't like the 200 free. Maybe you'll learn to love it along with that 200 BR, SS. Have fun with that. :thhbbb: ;)
I agree with you! The 200 free is "controlled speed"! It is a very challenging race that you have to swim consistently to know how to pace it correctly......cause boy does it hurt if you swim it wrong....actually it always hurts! If you pace it right, its not as bad.
I would call it "controlled death" especially if you swim it wrong.
Although when I swam my pb last spring it felt great from start to finish. Now the meet after that was another story, my legs started to go numb at 75 and my kick was no longer a factor at 125.
No it's not!!! Blech. I think the 400 IM is the "Holy Grail" of swimming. I don't have the endurance or engine at the moment for either your Holy Grail or mine, so I'm sticking with the sprints. You and FlyQueen can have that 200 free all to yourselves. I hate that event. :thhbbb: :thhbbb: :thhbbb: If you gotta do a 200, it might as well be IM or fly. Freestyle is such a dull stroke.
And the 200 BR is the stuff of the Gods!
