OK gang.
The "kicking" bullies have rounded on me even though I had a fantastic swim this weekend. They are telling me I need to kick, my coach said don't over do it b/c it disrupts the stroke...
I can kick, I maybe didn't intergrate it in my 100FR to their approval but I am not convinced that kicking alone is the way to go.
I think working 100's with kick focus is a better way rather than yards and yards at "meh" pace.
What % of your yards do you kick per week, and how much of that is with fins?
So if I am a lifter who does squats and leg press, do I need to kick? I don't like kicking.
Building leg strength is good; core strength is better. (Actually, my own view is that "core" is "knees through chest" so quads/hams count too.)
But nothing makes you kick faster than kicking fast. And, yes, I think a fast kick is pretty necessary to be as fast as you can be. (Cue the soundtrack.)
That said...I don't think masters swimming should be a complete chore. Is the reason you don't like kicking, that you aren't good at it? Then maybe you should work with your coach to get a plan to kick faster; the (hopefully) resulting improvement might light your fire.
But if you just out-and-out don't like it and don't think that will change, don't do it. There are definitely some fast people out there who are (comparatively) weak kickers. Could they be better if their kick was stronger? Sure.
But if you don't like workouts, you might not come as much (or at all). All the kicking in the world won't help you then.
So if I am a lifter who does squats and leg press, do I need to kick? I don't like kicking.
Building leg strength is good; core strength is better. (Actually, my own view is that "core" is "knees through chest" so quads/hams count too.)
But nothing makes you kick faster than kicking fast. And, yes, I think a fast kick is pretty necessary to be as fast as you can be. (Cue the soundtrack.)
That said...I don't think masters swimming should be a complete chore. Is the reason you don't like kicking, that you aren't good at it? Then maybe you should work with your coach to get a plan to kick faster; the (hopefully) resulting improvement might light your fire.
But if you just out-and-out don't like it and don't think that will change, don't do it. There are definitely some fast people out there who are (comparatively) weak kickers. Could they be better if their kick was stronger? Sure.
But if you don't like workouts, you might not come as much (or at all). All the kicking in the world won't help you then.
