I love to swim sprints in a masters meet but I also have enjoyed doing triathlons. It is very difficult to train for both. I'd love to hear from folks that compete in both masters meets and triathlons to learn how they balance training and competing in both.
I coach a number of triathletes...and not one single one has ANY interest in swimming in a swim meet. I can understand the mindset...but have tried to explain that racing is racing and so many multisport athletes right ff the swim leg...or think the best thing they can do is just bang our more mileage to try and get better. Enter meets, race almost every weekend whether that's a 5k run, a 100 mile ride or the 1500 at your local meet...IMHO.
An interesting article published in the current issue of ASCA by Scott Volkers an elite swim coach from Brisbane, Australia. I like what he has to say about Speed…listen up all you Triathletes, open water swimmers and distance swimmers who do not believe that speed work is important…your wrong!!
Paul, that has also been my experience with some triathletes that don't have a swimming background. I coached a masters group for eight years that was primarily made up of triathletes. I explained to them that doing a straight 2000 each time you practice the swim will not get you anywhere. Some had a difficult time understanding why we did drills, 25s, 50s, 100s , and 300s. Also, some didn't understand that swimming is very technical and takes time to master. Some would get frustrated when they weren't swimming fast times after just one year.
In defense of several triathletes I have coached, I did get several to swim in a masters meet and they loved it! Of the ones that did not do a masters meet, several expressed that they would not have a chance going up against all the former college swimmers. I can see how for folks that have never competed in swimming, the masters scene might be a little intimidating. Emphasizing participation in masters meet as a team effort has gotten some to the scene. They very much enjoyed being part of relays and contributing to the overall success of the team through individual events.
I coach a number of triathletes...and not one single one has ANY interest in swimming in a swim meet. I can understand the mindset...but have tried to explain that racing is racing and so many multisport athletes right ff the swim leg...or think the best thing they can do is just bang our more mileage to try and get better. Enter meets, race almost every weekend whether that's a 5k run, a 100 mile ride or the 1500 at your local meet...IMHO.
An interesting article published in the current issue of ASCA by Scott Volkers an elite swim coach from Brisbane, Australia. I like what he has to say about Speed…listen up all you Triathletes, open water swimmers and distance swimmers who do not believe that speed work is important…your wrong!!
Paul, that has also been my experience with some triathletes that don't have a swimming background. I coached a masters group for eight years that was primarily made up of triathletes. I explained to them that doing a straight 2000 each time you practice the swim will not get you anywhere. Some had a difficult time understanding why we did drills, 25s, 50s, 100s , and 300s. Also, some didn't understand that swimming is very technical and takes time to master. Some would get frustrated when they weren't swimming fast times after just one year.
In defense of several triathletes I have coached, I did get several to swim in a masters meet and they loved it! Of the ones that did not do a masters meet, several expressed that they would not have a chance going up against all the former college swimmers. I can see how for folks that have never competed in swimming, the masters scene might be a little intimidating. Emphasizing participation in masters meet as a team effort has gotten some to the scene. They very much enjoyed being part of relays and contributing to the overall success of the team through individual events.
