The January results for GTD are now up: www.usms.org/.../gothedistance08
Once again, some absolutely astonishing distance totals. Carrie Kostopulos swam 212.41 miles. That's 373,842 yards or more than 12,000 yards per day (or about 11,000 meters if you prefer).
I see Kristina Ulveling swam 74.8 miles. If she kicks my butt in the 500 free I guess I'll know why :)
Something I've always found a little strange is how women seem to dominate the leaders in this event. In January, women accounted for 7 of the top 10 mileage totals. In 2007 women had 6 of the top 10, but the top four were all women. I'm not sure what to make of this. Are men just lazier?
Former Member
As I understand Modern Swimming Theory, faster times and more efficient swimming come from low-mileage, high-quality workouts that emphasize bouts of sprinting, with rest in between (assuming technique, kicking, and the like are already well incorporated into swimming style).
VB
I've heard that theory as well. What's actually practiced is quite another story.
From what I've seen (and experienced personally) the top clubs here in GA and at NCAA Div I schools (like Stanford and Auburn) train their swimmers with double workouts. And depending on the time of the season they swim over 10K a day and up to 20K. I feel it's more of a high mileage, high quality in reality.
If we're talking about masters swimmers, the top two dominant women in my age group swim doubles including 6 to 10 swimming workouts a week (as quoted in swimming magazine - or as one of them told me personally.)
However, I'm still going to work on putting the modern swimming theory to the test. It's soooo much easier.
But (S)he-Man, 6 x week 1.5 hours is not the "Modern Swimming Theory." That's a heckuva lot of swimming.
Guess you are right as that's what I've been told. I can't help it if many of my close friends are Iron(wo)men. They are truly insane and will on occasion do triple workouts in a day. I guess it's all relative. :dunno:
I like GTD as it has helped me push on for the extra 500 yards in a workout or something.
Last Jan I did something like 16 miles...this year I had 29.49...so it's helped me step up my training level, which should be good for my overall conditioning..
Would it be unbelievably sexist of me to suggest that there are more stay-at-home moms than stay-at-home dads, at least in the US, if not Canada, and this could conceivably give women in the masters age groups more discretionary hours to swim, especially if the natatorium has a daycare center and/or the kids are in school part of the day?
As a stay at home mom to an almost 3 year old I can say my swimming time is very limited. My facility has a kid kare but you have to make reservations and most of the time it's full a week in advance so I have to plan way ahead to get in a day time swim. No other day care nor baby sitters used. So my time in the pool is 4:30-6am with the age group team. I've done just over 54 miles for the year and it's all been with the age groupers except 1 one-hour session while M was in pre-school (1 day a week for 3 hours). Once M is in school longer, then I'll get more day-time swimming in and log in more time. Although I'm 100% a team swimmer. I don't like swimming on my own.
I don't think what you said was sexist but I do think it's not totally true (as no theory is 100% true). None of my stay at home mom friends would be able to exercise during the day where it requires a drive, exercise, shower, etc with kids at home
Alison, I remember when I quit full time when my first one was 9 months old(he will be 20 in March, oh my!). All my co-workers teased me about watching soap operas and eating bon-bons. It could not be further from the truth! I developed my at home work-outs in those years for convenience sake. That is nice because over the years I have accumulated a good set of fitness equipment to work out at home. I cannot seem to convince the hubby to put in a indoor lap pool though!
