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 ***.
Back in the stone age (1970s), Mark Shubert would dedicate an entire week to each stroke at the beginning of the season. All of his swimmers would end up being excellent 400 IM swimmers, at least. I do not know if he ever did one stroke per workout exclusively, but would guess not. It appears that your coach is trying to take a page out of this training manual, but has lost something in the translation. I will not agree that this is "stupid," but it is certainly an odd training method. Did the coach give stroke technique critique to everyone for the whole workout? If not, then the point was lost during warmup. If so, he (she) was trying to hardwire muscle memory in one session for the stroke. Not a likely outcome, judging by your reaction.
Back in the stone age (1970s), Mark Shubert would dedicate an entire week to each stroke at the beginning of the season. All of his swimmers would end up being excellent 400 IM swimmers, at least. I do not know if he ever did one stroke per workout exclusively, but would guess not. It appears that your coach is trying to take a page out of this training manual, but has lost something in the translation. I will not agree that this is "stupid," but it is certainly an odd training method. Did the coach give stroke technique critique to everyone for the whole workout? If not, then the point was lost during warmup. If so, he (she) was trying to hardwire muscle memory in one session for the stroke. Not a likely outcome, judging by your reaction.
