How to get stronger

OK, I'm in agreement. Maybe I should do a jaegerbomb or two to get my courage going! :drink: :joker: If I can do it, you can do it. So just do it! (uh, when the pain from the freaky accident to the ankle subsides.) Your signature is misleading! You're not 50 yet!

"Stronger" means that you are building strength over time from where you are now...that means lifting more weight...more often. For a someone like me (non-highschool, noncollege swimmer), strength makes me feel better and last longer in the pool. But technique is where I can gain the most time (like breaking 1:00 in the 100 free). For example, how is lifting strength training going to get me to be able to do 3 SDK underwater for the 3 turns? It won't. Better technique will...

And to further clarify, my lifetime best in 100 back SCY is about what Fortress did when she was 12 years old, so that's my goal. That's my goal too. lol. Now that I get that you have to work the upsweep of SDKs as well as the downsweep, I'll have some chance of improving on my 12 year old times. :groovy:

Eat lots of garlic, take Vitamin B Complex with C Fortes and massive doses of Vitamin E

(S)he, I may be wrong but will assume that until you tell me otherwise these are the same high school age girls you've been training with. My suggestion is to look at what the gals at U of A or Auburn or doing for a more relevant comparison. :lmao: Look @ what Auburn gals are doing for a relevant comparison? Paul, I think I see what you are saying. Is what you are saying - see how strong - and consequently fast- Auburn gals are? So true. However, comparing myself to U of A or Auburn gals or gals who final at Trials seems completely irrelevant. I will never be there. It's also a heck of a stretch to compare myself to gals who just make the OT cuts - although it's not as large of a leap as the first example. I think I'll check out what they are doing in Tipperary prior to sailing over to Never Never Land. Fort, I'm enjoying myself in the weight room. I need not worry about weight room burnout. Or injuring myself there. Ever. Or moose - well, except for when I'm in a fastskin at which point I am often mistaken for one. :D

:lmao: Look @ what Auburn gals are doing for a relevant comparison? Paul, I think I see what you are saying. Is what you are saying - see how strong - and consequently fast- Auburn gals are? So true. However, comparing myself to U of A or Auburn gals or gals who final at Trials seems completely irrelevant. I will never be there. It's also a heck of a stretch to compare myself to gals who just make the OT cuts - although it's not as large of a leap as the first example. I think I'll check out what they are doing in Tipperary prior to sailing over to Never Never Land. Fort, I'm enjoying myself in the weight room. I need not worry about weight room burnout. Or injuring myself there. Ever. Or moose - well, except for when I'm in a fastskin at which point I am often mistaken for one. :D This is called selling yourself short. You can either say "Oh I'm sooooo slow, I would be embarrassed to train like an elite athlete," or you can figure out what it takes to swim faster and do it. Big hint: get stronger. It's almost like cheating. The most effective form of cheating in swimming is anabolic steroids. All they do is make you more muscular. What would happen if you got more muscular without drugs?

Regarding deadlifts: my sense is that I might want a few weeks in the gym doing standard stuff before advancing to the D-L, but maybe that's an emotional issue rather than a physical one. I suppose that given the right instruction (I doubt I've done a D-L in 3 decades) and starting off easy, you could start any time. My only physical issue right now is a raggy ankle, so that's my excuse, as much as it stinks.

Tom: I think your DL issue is emotional. OK, I'm in agreement. Maybe I should do a jaegerbomb or two to get my courage going! :drink: :joker:

Tom: I think your DL issue is emotional. Actually, what am I waiting for? It'd be another chance to embarrass my teenagers.

Your signature is misleading! You're not 50 yet! This is true, thanks for the chance to clarify. I seriously doubt I'll have any competition before my birthday, though as I've announced on FB the coming out party will be at Big Shoulders 4 days after I start getting AARP mailings: http://www.bigshoulders.org/ Anyone wanting birthday cake on the beach, just let me know if you'll be there and I'll try to plan accordingly. And to further clarify, my lifetime best in 100 back SCY is about what Fortress did when she was 12 years old, so that's my goal.