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.
Former Member
All distance swimmers know that sprinters are just part timers that can start and turn.
D-men rule!
New Daddy-
Swim some sprint races & swim some distance races. See which you like better, then start to train for those races. You may find that you like distance, but that swimming a 50 fly or free on occasion is a lot of fun. The important thing is to enjoy yourself!
Dana
What if I am not good enough to be a sprinter nor a distance swimmer.
I look at masters swimming this way. I'm in it as much for my health as anything else. The competition, if there is any, is not between me and the person in the next lane. It's between me yesterday and me today. I am thus by definition "good enough" for whatever I choose to do.
Toss out the definition of "good enough" that's cast in external, me vs. you terms. You are good enough. Do what makes you happy.
Skip
Please tell me what is a distance swimmer or a sprint swimmer?
I think you can be whatever you want. First we need technique, can we learn this technique on our own. Yes we can, be a copy cat watch some videos learn to reach then get to the catch then to the finish. Hey you can even do drills which I try not to do anymore. Once you have technique it is a matter of workouts to best fit your style and preferrence.
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!
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.
I know this is also slightly off the original intent of the post, and I am confused as well.
How does one know they are really a distance swimmer vs. a sprinter?
For example, I'm sure Fort practices like she is a sprinter, so uses her distance sets differently than someone who thinks they are a distance swimmer does. Of course, she will do well in either. But naturally, she practices sprinting most of the time so she will place better in the sprints. But what if she had a personality change and decided she liked distance best and practiced like a distance swimmer? Wouldn't she naturally place better in the distance events than the sprints just on the pure fact she is practicing to be a sprinter?
I guess the point is, how do you know you're practicing what you are REALLY naturally best at? How could someone test this without bias from what they practice on a day to day basis? Or in the case of middle distance, what if the field of competition is poor?
And speaking of it, what about middle distance? Is there a group that's naturally suited best for middle distance? So, if I start practicing like a 200 swimmer, will it blind me to a true calling as someone who does 50's, 100's, or 500+ events?
I enjoy all distances, so I would like to practice what I am naturally best at so I can feel the most sense of accomplishment at meets. How can I know?
Not to say this is THE factor, but how you split a race is also a clue. Sprinters typically take out their races faster, and comparatively "die" on the back half. Distance swimmers tend to even or negative split. The 200 might be the perfect race to test this. I'd say if your second 100 is more than three seconds slower than your first, you might be a sprinter. If your second 100 is 2-3 slower than your first, you're a middle distance swimmer. Less than two seconds difference, you're a distance swimmer. So now you know :)
How does one know they are really a distance swimmer vs. a sprinter?
For example, I'm sure Fort practices like she is a sprinter, so uses her distance sets differently than someone who thinks they are a distance swimmer does. Of course, she will do well in either. But naturally, she practices sprinting most of the time so she will place better in the sprints. But what if she had a personality change and decided she liked distance best and practiced like a distance swimmer? Wouldn't she naturally place better in the distance events than the sprints just on the pure fact she is practicing to be a sprinter?
I guess the point is, how do you know you're practicing what you are REALLY naturally best at? How could someone test this without bias from what they practice on a day to day basis? Or in the case of middle distance, what if the field of competition is poor?
And speaking of it, what about middle distance? Is there a group that's naturally suited best for middle distance? So, if I start practicing like a 200 swimmer, will it blind me to a true calling as someone who does 50's, 100's, or 500+ events?
I enjoy all distances, so I would like to practice what I am naturally best at so I can feel the most sense of accomplishment at meets. How can I know?
I didn't always practice like a sprinter and I still did best in the sprints! Last summer/early fall, for example, I trained a lot with my team and was doing a lot more yardage. (Not many sprinters on my team.) Despite the engine building, I still always placed or was ranked higher in the 50s. So, I've concluded that even if I trained like crazy, I'd still do better in the sprints than distance events. (However, since hardly anyone swims the 200 fly, maybe I'd do well there. :rofl: ) Now, having focused more on sprinting and short quality sets the last five months, I think I'm a little better at sprinting now with my aerobic lite training plan. Since I don't swim in many meets, I tend to be pretty focused on the sprints. Also, physically, I'm pretty strong. Strength = sprinter. Another clue. Reaction time? I'm pretty fast off the blocks, another sprinter trait.
I think you may have to swim a bunch of events at meets and see how you do. If there's no competition, look at the "current top times" on the competiton tab at the top of the USMS home page to compare yourself to others in your age group. I don't think your training will steer you erroneously into something you're not suited for. Your area of expertise will likely still shine through, guided by your own instincts and preferences.
Middle distance is definitely a distinct discipline!!
Kirk:
Except for my IM, which involves evilstroke, my 100s are usually 2-2.5 seconds apart. Sprinters also have FEAR OF DYING ... Although I grant you that most sprinters go out fast. I'll get around to trying that tactic too. (And as you saw, my venture into the 100 free resulted in splits only 1.2 seconds apart).
We used say sprinter = 50, 100 or 200, middle distance = 200, 400 or 800, distance = 800, 1500 or more. Marathons 10mi or more.
I found very little difference just in the training and conditioning.
George.....I think the biggest change I've seen in swimming the last few years is that the 200 and even the 500(400) are now "sprints". Thorpe and now Phelps both utilizing strong 6 beat kicks and in Phelps case attacking turns w/7 underwater dolphin kicks have redefined these distances.
Mr. Nelson is correct.....I think "test" swims especially the 200 are a good way to start to figure out what your natural physiology is.....other factors like vertical jump, reaction time testing, power/strength tests via bench press, etc. can all help....
As I have said in my previous posts....the only fast twitch muscles that I own are the ones I use for blinking and speaking..;) .I have found that as I get older my distance has improved...I figure that about the time I hit the 80+ group I should be quite the stud as my time should FINALLY qualify as sprints..:applaud:
