I mostly swim freestyle, actually ... I only swim freestyle. I'm thinking it would be good to throw in a few others, mainly *** and back (forget fly). How much time should I dedicate to these strokes outside of my regular freestyle sets?
Cheers,
Eric
Former Member
The OP didn't say whether he is a fitness swimmer or competes.
If he competes and freestyle is all he wants to race - then there is little reason not to concentrate on freestyle if racing speed is the priority.
But some variation is good for reasons already stated:
- reduce boredom
- work new muscles and avoid overuse
- rest or recovery with other strokes
My best event is sprint breastroke, then sprint fly, then 100IM. I will never race non-IM backstroke unless I am the last choice for a relay.
In my 3200 yd. workout today, 600 yds of the main set was IMs. 1200 yds. was freestyle, plus some IM kick. I think in general between 2/3 and 3/4 of my workout is freestyle.
There are only two strokes that I do Crawl and Fly. The other two *** stroke and backstroke are not in my want to do category. I usually swim the fly one or two lengths at a time a few times while swimming.
I see this word bored, how in the world can any one become bored if you are thinking about your swimming stroke???
Hoffman - I'm mostly a fitness swimmer, when I compete it's for fun during the open water aquathlon season here in CA. I'll keep freestyle a heavy majority and use other strokes to break it up. Prob back and ***. Nobody likes backstroke huh? Wonder why they don't make goggles with little mirrors so you can see the wall coming up or something.
Goechuck - Not bored when i'm swimming, but variation prob. would help motivate me when there's something new/challenging in store to get up to and go . It's a love hate relationship with exercise sometimes. Especially now that it's getting colder, once I'm there it's great ... but getting there ... that's the real challenge sometimes.
Typhoons/Redbird - I'll definitely have to write up my sets from now on (the night before) ... will help me set better goals.
I want to add another 800/1000 yards to my routine. But, ah ... I have to swim faster to get it in. Another reason I've been focusing on freestyle so much.
There are only two strokes that I do Crawl and Fly. The other two *** stroke and backstroke are not in my want to do category. I usually swim the fly one or two lengths at a time a few times while swimming.
I see this word bored, how in the world can any one become bored if you are thinking about your swimming stroke???
People who have been swimming for many decades probably have decided what they are best at and what they don't want to be bothered with any more, and that's fine for them. When I was a runner and then a bike racer, I learned I wasn't cut out for marathons or mountain biking.
I do think about my swim stroke constantly, but with only 11 years of continuous fitness swimming under my belt, it's all still new to me and I feel I owe it to myself to try every aspect of swimming and give it my best shot.
For example, I used to do the world's worst *** stroke, but now that I have learned to swim it properly in the last year or so, I want to focus on improvement and see how far I can get with it. Maybe in another decade, I'll decide it's not something I want to do any more, but I can't know that without trying.
