I'm swimming with an age-group team and I am having some concerns about the workouts. Today, the entire workout was breaststroke. Warmup - 1500 ***. First Set - 7x300 ***, 30 sec rest interval between 300s. Second Set - 300 kick (***), Third Set - 20x100 ***. Cool Down.
I made it through the warmup and 4 of the first 300s before I could no longer lift my arms and my legs were starting to cramp. I swam free the remaining 300s and completed the kick set before I had to call it quits. (No one else finished either).
I've got mixed feelings about this type of workout and I would like some feedback.
On the one hand, my *** stroke muscles got a great workout. On the other hand, it was impossible to maintain perfect form. Instead I concentrated mostly on high elbows and the outsweep portion as well as a good kick.
Prior to swimming with this particular coach, my philosophy was to not sacrifice form and technique for yardage. But are there times when it is good to overwork the muscles?
BTW: Although this is only my 3rd workout with this Coach, I have noticed that this type of workout is not unusual, we have yet to do any freestyle sets. It has all been butterfly, back and ***.
Having only started doing swim practices a couple years ago, I don't have a lot of experience to call on, but all breaststroke does sound odd. Of course this comes from someone who's happy with an all-freestyle workout.... But even so, the workouts I've experienced seem to have free as the primary stroke w/ the others mixed in, as IM sets and such. I've never worked out with an age group team, but I've glanced at some of their practices after finishing my workouts--and they pretty much seem to follow the same pattern, except w/ more yards and faster speed.
Wonder if it's worth asking the coach (in a friendly way) about this... something like, "This is new to me, having all *** (or all fly or all back). I'd be interested in finding out more about your goals in practices like this." (Imagine you're writing an article about the coach and her team and you just want the information in an objective way.)
Actually, I'd be curious about the coach's rationale. You could tell her inquiring minds want to know. ;)
Having only started doing swim practices a couple years ago, I don't have a lot of experience to call on, but all breaststroke does sound odd. Of course this comes from someone who's happy with an all-freestyle workout.... But even so, the workouts I've experienced seem to have free as the primary stroke w/ the others mixed in, as IM sets and such. I've never worked out with an age group team, but I've glanced at some of their practices after finishing my workouts--and they pretty much seem to follow the same pattern, except w/ more yards and faster speed.
Wonder if it's worth asking the coach (in a friendly way) about this... something like, "This is new to me, having all *** (or all fly or all back). I'd be interested in finding out more about your goals in practices like this." (Imagine you're writing an article about the coach and her team and you just want the information in an objective way.)
Actually, I'd be curious about the coach's rationale. You could tell her inquiring minds want to know. ;)
