As I crawled back into the pool today fat and out of shape, I wondered: Don't sprinters need some minimal aerobic work? I see that Ande is doing none whatsoever and Paul advises not "fighting fat" in the pool. I do a lot of race pace training and cross training. But still, is just a little aerobic work called for? I can tell I don't need any for 50s, but my 100s could use a little something. I don't think I have the substantial swimming aerobic base that people like Ande have because I was out of the pool for so many years .. So I'm either taking my 100s out too slow for fear of dying or actually dying. Does aerobic work help counter this? Or do I need more lactate work such as doing 100s with huge amounts of rest?
In response to the thread title..
Based upon the results of Jazz and the testimony of Paul Smith, I would say, not much.
Mike Bottom, on the first link provided by Paul, seems to disagree with that statement.
Paul may not consider himself a sprinter but he is the world record holder in several 50s...doing aerobic work didn't seem to hurt him, at least! In my opinion, it is good to do for general health regardless of its impact (or lack) on swimming times.
Fort, in my college days :oldman: the only 50 was the 50 free and all 100s were also considered sprints. Now we have all these 50s with world records, the 100IM, and 200 free and medley relays at NCAAs. (I think it is due to Title IX.)
Ande, I wonder if your formulas are more applicable to younger swimmers, maybe it changes with age. For example, I notice that at USA-S meets I tend to do better against the kids in the 100 back but at masters meets I am probably considered better at the 200 back (in short course, anyway). Some of it is due to the difference in training volume, of course, but maybe not all. (I have definitely noticed that my 200 fly -- once my best event -- has been the event most affected by age and I cannot seem to reverse that at all. Really sucks getting older.)
In response to the thread title..
Based upon the results of Jazz and the testimony of Paul Smith, I would say, not much.
Mike Bottom, on the first link provided by Paul, seems to disagree with that statement.
Paul may not consider himself a sprinter but he is the world record holder in several 50s...doing aerobic work didn't seem to hurt him, at least! In my opinion, it is good to do for general health regardless of its impact (or lack) on swimming times.
Fort, in my college days :oldman: the only 50 was the 50 free and all 100s were also considered sprints. Now we have all these 50s with world records, the 100IM, and 200 free and medley relays at NCAAs. (I think it is due to Title IX.)
Ande, I wonder if your formulas are more applicable to younger swimmers, maybe it changes with age. For example, I notice that at USA-S meets I tend to do better against the kids in the 100 back but at masters meets I am probably considered better at the 200 back (in short course, anyway). Some of it is due to the difference in training volume, of course, but maybe not all. (I have definitely noticed that my 200 fly -- once my best event -- has been the event most affected by age and I cannot seem to reverse that at all. Really sucks getting older.)
