In swimming, how is it that one can excel in both sprints and long distance? Is it because the distance games in swimming are only "relatively" distance games but are not really distance games from a physiologic perspective?
In the world of tracks, for example, an athlete cannot excel at both sprints and distance. Even the athletes from the two areas look different - much leaner for the distance runners and muscular for the sprinters.
I am wondering about this because whether I should focus on either the sprint or the distance as I plan to participate in the masters meet, or whether I don't have to sacrifice one for the other.
George is correct......you can do any event you want to.....and just as folks like Fort are "venturing" out into the "D" world by swimming (gasp) a 100 free I think its great to try out as many strokes/distances as you can. I think early season meets are a great place to swim things like the 500/1000, 200 back, basically anything but the "unmentioned" stroke.
Where I do think there is a difference is for those who are looking at competing, making Top 10, WR's, etc......in those cases its rare that someone (even in masters) can go against their physiological strengths/weaknesses and really excel.....improve yes.....
But if the Fort or any other "drop dead" sprinter all of a sudden decided to start swimming the 1650.....although she'd have most likely very good technique....I'm guessing she'd run into a bit more competition than in the 50's!
I wasn't venturing out into the "D" world. I was venturing out into the "F" (free) world. :thhbbb: But I'll be sure to stop at 100 and not venture into your fav event!
Zirconium:
It's pretty elementary. You're a sprinter if you go fast over short distances and other people smoke you at longer distances. Typically, the shorter the distance, the higher I will place. This is why evil Smith is right in his last paragraph. Whilst I might look pretty in a 1650 (although this is a very dubious proposition), I would not do very well in a 1650.
But you really should swim what makes you happy. I'd probably swim some longer stuff if I could do more engine building.
George is correct......you can do any event you want to.....and just as folks like Fort are "venturing" out into the "D" world by swimming (gasp) a 100 free I think its great to try out as many strokes/distances as you can. I think early season meets are a great place to swim things like the 500/1000, 200 back, basically anything but the "unmentioned" stroke.
Where I do think there is a difference is for those who are looking at competing, making Top 10, WR's, etc......in those cases its rare that someone (even in masters) can go against their physiological strengths/weaknesses and really excel.....improve yes.....
But if the Fort or any other "drop dead" sprinter all of a sudden decided to start swimming the 1650.....although she'd have most likely very good technique....I'm guessing she'd run into a bit more competition than in the 50's!
I wasn't venturing out into the "D" world. I was venturing out into the "F" (free) world. :thhbbb: But I'll be sure to stop at 100 and not venture into your fav event!
Zirconium:
It's pretty elementary. You're a sprinter if you go fast over short distances and other people smoke you at longer distances. Typically, the shorter the distance, the higher I will place. This is why evil Smith is right in his last paragraph. Whilst I might look pretty in a 1650 (although this is a very dubious proposition), I would not do very well in a 1650.
But you really should swim what makes you happy. I'd probably swim some longer stuff if I could do more engine building.
