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 ***.
Parents
Former Member
Susan-
I'm sorry you're having such an experience with the age group team. That practice sounds grueling! I never would have made it through the warm-up, and honestly, I don't think I would have tried.
It is not unusual for our age group workouts to be "themed", that is *** stroke week, fly week, IM week, etc. However, we NEVER do any one stroke exclusively. Most workouts incorporate freestyle and IMs along with the stroke of the day. The assigned stroke is also broken down into drill and kick sets, so we are not swimming 100% stroke on different intervals. I would certainly question the coaches motivation. It would be more effective to do 1500 in *** stroke drills as warm-up (30 x 50 done skul, 1 pull 3 kick, all pull, BS kick on back, repeat) than to try & swim 1500 straight.
Sometimes, when the coach who writes the practice is not there to implement it, we do read it wrong. Maybe the assistant in charge didn't read the coaches instructions & explain the sets properly. Or maybe, these coaches need a wake-up call.
Susan-
I'm sorry you're having such an experience with the age group team. That practice sounds grueling! I never would have made it through the warm-up, and honestly, I don't think I would have tried.
It is not unusual for our age group workouts to be "themed", that is *** stroke week, fly week, IM week, etc. However, we NEVER do any one stroke exclusively. Most workouts incorporate freestyle and IMs along with the stroke of the day. The assigned stroke is also broken down into drill and kick sets, so we are not swimming 100% stroke on different intervals. I would certainly question the coaches motivation. It would be more effective to do 1500 in *** stroke drills as warm-up (30 x 50 done skul, 1 pull 3 kick, all pull, BS kick on back, repeat) than to try & swim 1500 straight.
Sometimes, when the coach who writes the practice is not there to implement it, we do read it wrong. Maybe the assistant in charge didn't read the coaches instructions & explain the sets properly. Or maybe, these coaches need a wake-up call.
