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
I started the thread as we were into a week of backstroke drills. I last swam a competitive 100 backstroke about the same year my current masters coach was born. I have not felt the need or desire to swim backstroke other than in an IM since. Swimming back drills is not likely to improve my *** stroke or my fly, the events that I will swim.
The majority of my swimming career there were posted work outs. Not only were they posted, but at least half of the time they were split into training groups (sprinters, stroke, mid-distance, distance) with specific sets for each training group. The coach had copies of each and would watch specific sets in specific lanes, offering advice and encouragement as needed. We knew what came next, and which sets we were expected to hit the hardest.
Now it seems that we are to be kept in the dark and not allowed to know what the next set will be. Some of us have been swimming a sufficient period of time to know that we would probably get more from a set of 3 x 200 stroke descend than a surprise timed 1000 free.
I would like coaches to realize that we are not all either IMers or there to swim free. Some of us are there to focus on training a particular stroke.
I do enjoy working out in a group, with some one else pushing, keeping us honest on the intervals and to offer critique and encouragement. I enjoy chasing backstrokers on stroke sets.
Just want to have the chance to work on what I know I need to work on.
I started the thread as we were into a week of backstroke drills. I last swam a competitive 100 backstroke about the same year my current masters coach was born. I have not felt the need or desire to swim backstroke other than in an IM since. Swimming back drills is not likely to improve my *** stroke or my fly, the events that I will swim.
The majority of my swimming career there were posted work outs. Not only were they posted, but at least half of the time they were split into training groups (sprinters, stroke, mid-distance, distance) with specific sets for each training group. The coach had copies of each and would watch specific sets in specific lanes, offering advice and encouragement as needed. We knew what came next, and which sets we were expected to hit the hardest.
Now it seems that we are to be kept in the dark and not allowed to know what the next set will be. Some of us have been swimming a sufficient period of time to know that we would probably get more from a set of 3 x 200 stroke descend than a surprise timed 1000 free.
I would like coaches to realize that we are not all either IMers or there to swim free. Some of us are there to focus on training a particular stroke.
I do enjoy working out in a group, with some one else pushing, keeping us honest on the intervals and to offer critique and encouragement. I enjoy chasing backstrokers on stroke sets.
Just want to have the chance to work on what I know I need to work on.
