Since joining an new group, I have run into an old problem. What to do when the coach has a workout designed that is something that it outside your swimming goals?
We are focused on Backstroke this week. Since it is highly unlikely that I will ever compete in Satan's stroke in an individual event other than surviving 25 to 50 yards/meters on a 200 IM, but I intend to compete in *** stroke, is it wrong to opt out and swim breastroke?
I opted out and swam breaststroke, working drills where drills were written, kicking where kicking was planned, and hammering the sprints when it was time to sprint.
Since I have aged up four brackets and will now compete in the 50-54 bracket, there are probably a finite number of swims that I have. I would rather focus on breaststroke where I am motivated and don't mind chasing the backstroke intervals.
Thoughts?
Don
Since joining an new group, I have run into an old problem. What to do when the coach has a workout designed that is something that it outside your swimming goals?
We are focused on Backstroke this week. Since it is highly unlikely that I will ever compete in Satan's stroke in an individual event other than surviving 25 to 50 yards/meters on a 200 IM, but I intend to compete in *** stroke, is it wrong to opt out and swim breastroke?
Great thread/topic, Don.
I don't find it wrong to opt out of something at all, and looks like you make it work with the intervals and kept up with your workout group. Every set has its benefits, but if you're bored w/ or physically can't do something, by all means, improvise. When I had a knee injury last year, I swam every workout from Oct-Dec w/ a buoy, substituted backstroke and free for all breaststroke until November, and was doing *** w/ dolphin kick from then until March. Like folks have already mentioned, it is masters and you can do (and you DID do) whatever you want.
But what I would like to also point out that for those who focus on one discipline, it does not hurt to every once in a while work on other things and the strokes you're not good at. If nothing else, it works more muscles, relieves some of the repetitive stress on your shoulders and gives you a more complete workout. An example - think of a distance/ow swimmer who does 5x5000y workouts in a week and only 200 of it is not freestyle. That is a RC issue waiting to happen.
Since joining an new group, I have run into an old problem. What to do when the coach has a workout designed that is something that it outside your swimming goals?
We are focused on Backstroke this week. Since it is highly unlikely that I will ever compete in Satan's stroke in an individual event other than surviving 25 to 50 yards/meters on a 200 IM, but I intend to compete in *** stroke, is it wrong to opt out and swim breastroke?
Great thread/topic, Don.
I don't find it wrong to opt out of something at all, and looks like you make it work with the intervals and kept up with your workout group. Every set has its benefits, but if you're bored w/ or physically can't do something, by all means, improvise. When I had a knee injury last year, I swam every workout from Oct-Dec w/ a buoy, substituted backstroke and free for all breaststroke until November, and was doing *** w/ dolphin kick from then until March. Like folks have already mentioned, it is masters and you can do (and you DID do) whatever you want.
But what I would like to also point out that for those who focus on one discipline, it does not hurt to every once in a while work on other things and the strokes you're not good at. If nothing else, it works more muscles, relieves some of the repetitive stress on your shoulders and gives you a more complete workout. An example - think of a distance/ow swimmer who does 5x5000y workouts in a week and only 200 of it is not freestyle. That is a RC issue waiting to happen.
