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.
As earlier posts mentioned, workouts should be a variety of distances, stokes and speeds. I am a distance swimmer and mainly train for open water races. Until 2 years ago, I was adamant about swimming freestyle in workouts and grumbled anytime we did IMs.
I read an article about Janet Evans training routine and she did lots of 200 and 400 IM repeats, claiming that the various strokes strengthened some opposing muscles and worked the core more than just doing free.
It made me appreciate my age group swimming days when our coach forced us to swim all disciplines.
Tree
I totally agree! Nothing wears me out more than doing 200IM repeats. I think you get a better workout when you mix up strokes.
Borrow away, slowswim!
And Senor Stud? You may be old, but you are a boy. And for some reason that defective little chromosone makes you swim faster. Probably less drag.
Former Member
Fellow? They are the part of the family we don't talk about. Didn't evolve. The baboons of the swimming world, if you will.
Baboons will be appearing with loudhailers behind your block at future meets...:drink:
In response to the sprint vs distance thing.
I currently don't know what I am yet. Although I'm not that close to top times in any distance. I enjoy doing all the Breaststroke races!
There should be more too, maybe a 500 and a 1000 even some relays would be good...especially if we keep the "kicking sticks" and "loud, petulant" short axis folks waiting around longer...
Former Member
I saw your 50 free time. You are going to be a real swimmer soon!
Zones or the CT Champs one?
Former Member
*GASP*...and I'm an old man...girl u better get to work ;) hehe
I've now got to work on doing a 100FR without taking it out too easy...
...and hitting tight streamlines faster.
Former Member
I keep telling my coaches I am a spinter and they keep saying I swim short races, but that is not the same thing.
I think I have a new motto. My I borrow it for my signature?
I remember when I first went to a Masters Coach, she watched me swim and then said, "Oh great a fast swimmer; you're the worst to coach."
A year later, I had to move; on my last day, I reminder her that she said that. Then I thanked her for curing me of being a fast swimmer.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Former Member
I have seen many distance swimmers who can sprint quite well. Not as fast as the "drop dead" type, yet very fast. I haven't seen too many sprinters swim distance events that well.
Just an observation.
Former Member
Which reminds me, what did you end up going in the 100 IM?
A poor 1:25...slower than my seed. It was too soon after the 200BR. I was in the top heat of the 200BR and there was maybe 5 heats of something inbetween my that and my IM...Elton John and Billy Joel gave a duet concert on my way home on the 25FR...LOL
Former Member
As earlier posts mentioned, workouts should be a variety of distances, stokes and speeds. I am a distance swimmer and mainly train for open water races. Until 2 years ago, I was adamant about swimming freestyle in workouts and grumbled anytime we did IMs.
I read an article about Janet Evans training routine and she did lots of 200 and 400 IM repeats, claiming that the various strokes strengthened some opposing muscles and worked the core more than just doing free.
It made me appreciate my age group swimming days when our coach forced us to swim all disciplines.
Tree
