Hi all!
In this thread: forums.usms.org/showthread.php
...there are a lot of different opinions on how to lift weights in combination with swimming. The opinions are all spread out in between other comments and quotes so I thought I would start a separate thread about this topic as I think it might be of value for everyone to get it sorted out how and why you should lift weights in combination with swimming. If you know of another thread with exactly this topic pls let me know and i will add this comment in that thread instead.
My strong belief so far is the following (not at all stating that this is the truth, but it is the best theory I have heard so far):
You lift weights to become stronger
If you are stronger you need less % of your total capability to travel at the same speed you did before you bacame stronger.
This will lead to that you can swim at the same speed for a longer period of time OR simply do the same distance as before, but faster
This means that both sprinters and distance swimmers benefit from becoming stronger.
You don't want to build muscle mass, since that creates drag. However, for most of us this is not a problem because if you train on a regular basis in the gym, 3-4 times a week in a very focused way you might add on 0,5-1,0 kg/year....if you are under the age of 30. Above this age you tend to add on much less if anything at all.:cane:
You become stronger by lifting heavy weights. High reps does not make you stronger, it increases your endurance capabilies. Endurance you typically practice in the pool. I therefore focus on sets of 3-6 reps with heavy weights. The next week I focus on fast movements (beacasue heavy lifting is often a rather slow movement), reducing the weights to 60-70% of max to practice fast movements under pressure (like swimming, but to the extreme). The week after that is for high reps letting the muscles rest a bit but dont let them rest completely....then I start all over again.
I typically focus on basic exercises like: squats, dead lifts, bench presses, chins and a variety of stomach and lower back exercisesVery interested to hear your opinions of the above and also your own experiences.
/Per
Parents
Former Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by knelson forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif
I really think the bottom line is there's more than one way to train that's effective. You can swim fast by never lifting a weight, you can swim fast by lifting weights a lot. If you're doing something that seems to be providing results for you then stick with it.
That is the line that this thread has been waiting for. :wave:
forums.usms.org/.../user_online.gif forums.usms.org/.../report.gif
Quite, and I think you have to be willing to try things you haven't tried before. Get a feel for what works for you. Perhaps it is the very variation itself that will do the magic.
I know Nick Brunelli did lots of kicking after coming back from shoulder op. Because of his op, it was the only thing he could do in the pool without injuring his shoulder. For the same reason he couldn't lift weights. Fully fit and racing again he goes 19.17 50scy and ties for first with Roland Schoeman in the Texas Invitational. Was it entirely because of his focus on kicking? Or was it because of his neglect of weightlifting? I have no idea. All I do know is that this choice of focus worked for Nick and he will probably pursue it until the returns are not so great anymore and then start to look for a new focus.
For my own part, I already practice Yoga and do lots of aerobic training. I feel I am starting to hit a wall having trained for about 9 months after a 24 year break. However, I am a lousy kicker and have never spent more than 10 mins in the gym. So now I am going to focus on lots more kicking and finally getting myself into that gym and lifting some weights but all the while trying not to lose my head entirely in my new focus and being careful to be balanced about everything: not forgetting my sprinting, still doing some endurance work, technique work, stretching etc.
I just think that if you are pursuing one direction and you have reached the point of dimininshing returns then move in another direction and see if that will give your progress some momentum again.
Syd
Quote:
Originally Posted by knelson forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif
I really think the bottom line is there's more than one way to train that's effective. You can swim fast by never lifting a weight, you can swim fast by lifting weights a lot. If you're doing something that seems to be providing results for you then stick with it.
That is the line that this thread has been waiting for. :wave:
forums.usms.org/.../user_online.gif forums.usms.org/.../report.gif
Quite, and I think you have to be willing to try things you haven't tried before. Get a feel for what works for you. Perhaps it is the very variation itself that will do the magic.
I know Nick Brunelli did lots of kicking after coming back from shoulder op. Because of his op, it was the only thing he could do in the pool without injuring his shoulder. For the same reason he couldn't lift weights. Fully fit and racing again he goes 19.17 50scy and ties for first with Roland Schoeman in the Texas Invitational. Was it entirely because of his focus on kicking? Or was it because of his neglect of weightlifting? I have no idea. All I do know is that this choice of focus worked for Nick and he will probably pursue it until the returns are not so great anymore and then start to look for a new focus.
For my own part, I already practice Yoga and do lots of aerobic training. I feel I am starting to hit a wall having trained for about 9 months after a 24 year break. However, I am a lousy kicker and have never spent more than 10 mins in the gym. So now I am going to focus on lots more kicking and finally getting myself into that gym and lifting some weights but all the while trying not to lose my head entirely in my new focus and being careful to be balanced about everything: not forgetting my sprinting, still doing some endurance work, technique work, stretching etc.
I just think that if you are pursuing one direction and you have reached the point of dimininshing returns then move in another direction and see if that will give your progress some momentum again.
Syd
