All,
In the last week been experiencing significant early tricep/rear deltoid fatigue during freestyle. It is affecting both arms but primarily right arm. It is causing me some serious stroke issues in longer (200m) swims as at the end of the swim I go from a fairly streamlined effort to flailing away.
It is becoming extremely frustrating as I fall apart earlier than I think I should be. It is causing me some confidence issues as I tend to compensate by going out a little faster than normal in hopes of getting more rest between sets.
Swam mid day practice today, got in 1700m in about 45 minutes but right now 2 hours later, I can feel the lactic acid in my triceps and they feel very 'heavy'.
Currently the only activity that could be contributing to the fatigue issues is swimming. I try to swim 4 days a week, M/Tu/Th/Sat. Is this too much? Should I consider adding some weight work to try to increase strength which might contribute to more endurance?
Or, am I just expecting too much at this point and need to just keep at it (started back 15 Sep after an 18+ year lay off)?
Paul
That is true..However, the lats are much larger muscles than the tris..If you can get them to do most of the work with proper form...endurance will be greater with less fatigue on the triceps..which will fatigue sooner..simply because they are smaller...transfering work to the largest muscles makes sense since they are stonger and will endure longer...pulling engages lats,lower and middle traps,primarily...
Actually, try this little test, put your right arm in position like you were just about to start a stroke then take you left hand and pull slightly backwards on your fingers of your right hand, what muscles engage to keep your right hand in position? Yep, that's right, the triceps. And if the triceps engage, you can be sure the rear delts are also engaging.
The more I think about this the more I think it is because I am swimming with longer, stronger strokes and not all the muscles involved have kept up. I think my triceps are just behind my lats and RC muscles. I'm gonna give it another week and see what happens.
Paul
That is true..However, the lats are much larger muscles than the tris..If you can get them to do most of the work with proper form...endurance will be greater with less fatigue on the triceps..which will fatigue sooner..simply because they are smaller...transfering work to the largest muscles makes sense since they are stonger and will endure longer...pulling engages lats,lower and middle traps,primarily...
Actually, try this little test, put your right arm in position like you were just about to start a stroke then take you left hand and pull slightly backwards on your fingers of your right hand, what muscles engage to keep your right hand in position? Yep, that's right, the triceps. And if the triceps engage, you can be sure the rear delts are also engaging.
The more I think about this the more I think it is because I am swimming with longer, stronger strokes and not all the muscles involved have kept up. I think my triceps are just behind my lats and RC muscles. I'm gonna give it another week and see what happens.
Paul
