Hypothesis on specialized training models
*Warning* this may bore some
members, please privately message
me to find the solution for you.
With 18 swimming events, fulfilling
the maximum potential in each discipline
requires specific training models.
Also, with the variety of body types,
the training program needs to vary
from person to person. For example,
Dara Torres might not have the
same level of success in a program
designed for Michael Phelps, and
vice versa. So, in order to maximize
either side of the spectrum, a
multi-faceted approach is required.
The point is, one program works very
well for a particular type of person,
and not so good for another. So which
program is better? Neither, that answer
depends on the athlete in question.
So you see, a coach can have success with
either program, and the athlete with a
predisposition for that type of training
will rise to the top.
I need to dispel any myths that one program
is better than another. This only makes
arguable sense when talking about a
particular athlete. So please, the traditional
methods do have merit when training particular athletes.
Although, the Nystrand versus Popov debate is another
example for the need towards flexible technique
analysis. Ultimately, it comes down to the
specific strength and weaknesses of each
particular athlete.
The point is, the depth of potential may
be a higher number than we previously assumed,
and that my friends, is an opportunity.
Happy Swimming,
Jonathan R. Miller:wave:
Chris,
You don't have to sit on your ankles, but try the bike with your toes pointed, using toe straps... even if only for 8 minutes/3xweek. You'll be impressed with your ability to keep a stable frequency at a lower amplitude in the water.
Although, you're already a WR holder because of your under-water abilities... What program have you been doing?
To be honest, I'm really happy to be having a conversation with a WR holder... Let me do the WAAHHHOOO!!
Thank-you...
I might give the bike thing a try, I already have one set up on a trainer at home for the winter (I'm a cold weather wienie about riding outside). However, I already point my toes way too much in my pedal stroke -- considered bad form, though it seemed to work okay for Lance -- and your exercise would probably tend to worsen a bad habit.
Very flattering words, but it seems like there are a lot of very fast swimmers (including WR holders) on this forum; I'm not sure that I have any particularly valuable insights. I am not tall nor do I have large hands/feet, but I have been blessed with great flexibility and have had a fast kick since childhood. I gather from your other messages that you've had to work hard to develop your kick, so it would seem to me that you have more valuable experiences to offer.
What program do I use? I average about 4000/day for maybe 5 days a week (it would be more yardage if I made it to practice on time, but I usually miss about 500 of warmup). These are 1.5 hour practices, so there is usually plenty of rest in most sets. We almost always do at least one kick set and one quality set in a practice, plus about 4 different types of test sets every 5-6 weeks. Fridays is always a broken mile freestyle. Otherwise I tend to do a lot of strokes (fly, back) when I practice because I get bored with free.
When I want to improve conditioning more (such as now, after a taper) I will jump in with the high school kids once a week and go more, usually 6500 or so. At one point I would practice with the senior group (8000+ per workout) but I can't recover from those practices like I used to and I was actually swimming slower. The "senior silver" group is fine for me at this point; I have to make some concession to age, I suppose.
Even for coaches who acknowledge the benefits of a strong kick, the actions don't always match up with the rhetoric. Too often I see coaches give kick sets sandwiched between two very challenging swim sets. Swimmers tend to take such sets as recovery unless the coach really rides them about it (and sometimes even then). Most practices have 1-2 sets that are clearly the main sets of the workout. How often is one of these a kick set? How often are test sets kicking sets? Not often enough, in my opinion. It isn't enough to be able to kick 25-50 fast because legs tire more quickly than arms (and suck up the oxygen supply) when one kicks aggressively.
And swimmers often fall into the trap of thinking that they are non-kickers, and then either not working kick sets or always wearing fins/zoomers. As you have demonstrated for yourself, anyone can train to be a fast kicker if one places a priority on it.
Happy swimming,
Chris
Chris,
You don't have to sit on your ankles, but try the bike with your toes pointed, using toe straps... even if only for 8 minutes/3xweek. You'll be impressed with your ability to keep a stable frequency at a lower amplitude in the water.
Although, you're already a WR holder because of your under-water abilities... What program have you been doing?
To be honest, I'm really happy to be having a conversation with a WR holder... Let me do the WAAHHHOOO!!
Thank-you...
I might give the bike thing a try, I already have one set up on a trainer at home for the winter (I'm a cold weather wienie about riding outside). However, I already point my toes way too much in my pedal stroke -- considered bad form, though it seemed to work okay for Lance -- and your exercise would probably tend to worsen a bad habit.
Very flattering words, but it seems like there are a lot of very fast swimmers (including WR holders) on this forum; I'm not sure that I have any particularly valuable insights. I am not tall nor do I have large hands/feet, but I have been blessed with great flexibility and have had a fast kick since childhood. I gather from your other messages that you've had to work hard to develop your kick, so it would seem to me that you have more valuable experiences to offer.
What program do I use? I average about 4000/day for maybe 5 days a week (it would be more yardage if I made it to practice on time, but I usually miss about 500 of warmup). These are 1.5 hour practices, so there is usually plenty of rest in most sets. We almost always do at least one kick set and one quality set in a practice, plus about 4 different types of test sets every 5-6 weeks. Fridays is always a broken mile freestyle. Otherwise I tend to do a lot of strokes (fly, back) when I practice because I get bored with free.
When I want to improve conditioning more (such as now, after a taper) I will jump in with the high school kids once a week and go more, usually 6500 or so. At one point I would practice with the senior group (8000+ per workout) but I can't recover from those practices like I used to and I was actually swimming slower. The "senior silver" group is fine for me at this point; I have to make some concession to age, I suppose.
Even for coaches who acknowledge the benefits of a strong kick, the actions don't always match up with the rhetoric. Too often I see coaches give kick sets sandwiched between two very challenging swim sets. Swimmers tend to take such sets as recovery unless the coach really rides them about it (and sometimes even then). Most practices have 1-2 sets that are clearly the main sets of the workout. How often is one of these a kick set? How often are test sets kicking sets? Not often enough, in my opinion. It isn't enough to be able to kick 25-50 fast because legs tire more quickly than arms (and suck up the oxygen supply) when one kicks aggressively.
And swimmers often fall into the trap of thinking that they are non-kickers, and then either not working kick sets or always wearing fins/zoomers. As you have demonstrated for yourself, anyone can train to be a fast kicker if one places a priority on it.
Happy swimming,
Chris
