Swimming Myths

Excellent versatility! But, taking pity on the poor sprinters... I'm sure most here would agree that 50's are less PAINFUL but not necessarily EASIER to do well. In fact, my main problem with 50s is that 1-2 mistakes can make such a huge difference in a race, whereas in races of 200+ that is less likely to occur. In other words, 50s and even 100s are less "forgiving" races, meaning you probably need greater mental focus at race time. In longer races you can rely on training to cover sloppy, unfocused races. (Of course, even better is to be both focused and fit.) And training for speed is not easy either. I have reluctantly included 50s in my races simply as a way to improve my 100s. I find that improving longer races can be easier -- just up the yardage -- while improving speed can be difficult. (Poking fun at sprinters is probably a holdover of my college career when they used to get out 30 min before the distance folk, with whom I often trained. Plus their pre-race "pump-up" rituals are sometimes just so weird, it makes them easy targets!) I really agree on sprint training. We'll usually do a distance set and the switch to sprint and I feel like I'm about to die. It's sort of like prolonged moderate, sick to your stomach pain (distance) or severe, intense, short pain (sprint.) Pick your poison. I find it easier to focus intensely for sub :30 seconds as opposed to moderate focus for 5 and 18 minutes.

Excellent versatility! But, taking pity on the poor sprinters... I'm sure most here would agree that 50's are less PAINFUL but not necessarily EASIER to do well. In fact, my main problem with 50s is that 1-2 mistakes can make such a huge difference in a race, whereas in races of 200+ that is less likely to occur. In other words, 50s and even 100s are less "forgiving" races, meaning you probably need greater mental focus at race time. In longer races you can rely on training to cover sloppy, unfocused races. (Of course, even better is to be both focused and fit.) And training for speed is not easy either. I have reluctantly included 50s in my races simply as a way to improve my 100s. I find that improving longer races can be easier -- just up the yardage -- while improving speed can be difficult. (Poking fun at sprinters is probably a holdover of my college career when they used to get out 30 min before the distance folk, with whom I often trained. Plus their pre-race "pump-up" rituals are sometimes just so weird, it makes them easy targets!) I really agree on sprint training. We'll usually do a distance set and the switch to sprint and I feel like I'm about to die. It's sort of like prolonged moderate, sick to your stomach pain (distance) or severe, intense, short pain (sprint.) Pick your poison. I find it easier to focus intensely for sub :30 seconds as opposed to moderate focus for 5 and 18 minutes.