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
Rule number one is to respect the coach. You may have one goal in your mind but he/she has the long term view for everyone in the pool. With that said most coaches will allow swimmers to swim one stroke in place of another as long as it doesn't disrupt the other swimmers and as long as you can make the intervals. Also once the coach allows the swimmer to change the stroke or intervals that swimmer must make sure all his lane mates are willing to work with these changes.
For those who say this is masters do what you want, umm...that is what lap swims are for. My belief is that I'm paying my dues every month to have coached workouts. I might not understand why I'm doing this set today but down the line I hope I have gained something from it. After four years of masters swimming I'm just beginning to understand why I've been doing certain sets and thank the god I just shut up and did them all those swims.
Rule number one is to respect the coach. You may have one goal in your mind but he/she has the long term view for everyone in the pool. With that said most coaches will allow swimmers to swim one stroke in place of another as long as it doesn't disrupt the other swimmers and as long as you can make the intervals. Also once the coach allows the swimmer to change the stroke or intervals that swimmer must make sure all his lane mates are willing to work with these changes.
For those who say this is masters do what you want, umm...that is what lap swims are for. My belief is that I'm paying my dues every month to have coached workouts. I might not understand why I'm doing this set today but down the line I hope I have gained something from it. After four years of masters swimming I'm just beginning to understand why I've been doing certain sets and thank the god I just shut up and did them all those swims.
