Two swimmers test their blood lactate and they are at the same level. One swimmer holds a 60 sec/100 pace and the other holds 75 sec/100 pace, is it fair to say swimmer one is swimming more efficiently, or are there other factors such as physiology at play? Can the swimmer with higher lactate still actually be swimming more efficiently, yet be generating the higher lactate numbers?
How do you pinpoint where a swimmer's physiology is limiting their performance and not their technique?
R Todd,
you asked:
One swimmer holds a 60 sec/100 pace and the other holds 75 sec/100 pace, is it fair to say swimmer one is swimming more efficiently, or are there other factors such as physiology at play?
There are so many factors in play it's difficult to pinpoint
I think Tip 165 Build a Better Boat addresses many of these issues pretty well.
Can the swimmer with higher lactate still actually be swimming more efficiently, yet be generating the higher lactate numbers?
maybe
How do you pinpoint where a swimmer's physiology is limiting their performance and not their technique?
When a swimmer has perfected their technique in every possible way, then other factors are limiting their performance. You pinpoint causes with data. You get specific data on everything.
conditioning is critical,
technique is critical, technique habits
mental toughness and other mental aspects are critical
I can usually figure out what a swimmer needs to do to swim faster faster.
I'm aware of what some of mine are. Figure out what yours are then create improvement programs. Everyone has their list.
Two swimmers test their blood lactate and they are at the same level. One swimmer holds a 60 sec/100 pace and the other holds 75 sec/100 pace, is it fair to say swimmer one is swimming more efficiently, or are there other factors such as physiology at play? Can the swimmer with higher lactate still actually be swimming more efficiently, yet be generating the higher lactate numbers?
How do you pinpoint where a swimmer's physiology is limiting their performance and not their technique?
Just trying to figure out my biggest shortcoming so I can focus on it, or at least be aware of it. Not sure if it is conditioning, technique or a combination of both. I'm talking primarily free here.
Ande and others,
Do you ever compare heart rate and heart rate recovery with your lanemates during a workout? What would your peak heart rate be and how quickly does it recover. I would assume the higher the heart rate the better and the quicker the recovery the better.
Just trying to figure out my biggest shortcoming so I can focus on it, or at least be aware of it. Not sure if it is conditioning, technique or a combination of both. I'm talking primarily free here.
Doc Counsilman drew up a hierarchy of training adaptations for swimming and the relative time involved in each part. The bottom of that pyramid was "skill", and the time involved was listed as "decades". On top of that was "Strength" -- years; "Aerobic" -- months; and at the top "anaerobic" -- weeks. Hierarchy Reprinted Here.
You should definitely focus on technique as part of your training; it's a forever endeavor. But you can work in conditioning at the same time. It's not like you have to do one at the expense of another.
I've been swimming for 10 years and I still think my biggest shortcoming is technique.
Just trying to figure out my biggest shortcoming so I can focus on it, or at least be aware of it. Not sure if it is conditioning, technique or a combination of both. I'm talking primarily free here.
Ande and others,
Do you ever compare heart rate and heart rate recovery with your lanemates during a workout? What would your peak heart rate be and how quickly does it recover. I would assume the higher the heart rate the better and the quicker the recovery the better.
Higher max heart rate is better because you're getting more oxygen to working muscles. That said, higher heart rates might not necessarily be better. If the goal of a set is to swim race pace, then sure, you want your HR up near max. If you're doing an EN1-type recovery set and your HR is up there, it's not so great.
Quick recovery is desirable.
biomechanical efficiency and physiological efficiency are two different things.
So, for example, swimmer 1 could be more efficient technically and less efficient physiologically.
Picture a swimmer with absolutely beautiful technique but totally out of shape against a swimmer with poor technique and great conditioning.
Thus, to answer your question both technique and conditioning will always be limiting factors to swimming speed.
The blood lactate lavel is not a "standard" to everyone but is an "individual level". We can compare two different test or situation (for ex one in november, one in march) and see the training progress. Is not convinient compare two swimmers without more information
There are so many things that factor into this equation besides lactate threshold and technique.
With a 15 second difference, I would think you could visually watch the swimmers and determine the differences in technique, or strength, size, conditioning, genetic talent.
But if you want a scientific answer, you would need to set up research on the two swimmers and push them through different tests.
Just trying to figure out my biggest shortcoming so I can focus on it, or at least be aware of it. Not sure if it is conditioning, technique or a combination of both. I'm talking primarily free here.
Ande and others,
Do you ever compare heart rate and heart rate recovery with your lanemates during a workout? What would your peak heart rate be and how quickly does it recover. I would assume the higher the heart rate the better and the quicker the recovery the better.
I haven't ever compared to lane mates. Though I have tracked my own heart rate recovery. I'm sure you could compare how long it takes to come down to resting heart rate but you could not use the exact numbers because of the different max and resting heart rates between individuals.
Yes, you are correct. Part of being in good shape is the ability to return to a "calm" heart rate after an intense swim (high heart rate).
I'm always trying to refine some small piece of my stroke and simultaneously improving conditioning. I think you have to chip away at both little by little.
The beginning of a season is a good time to concentrate more on technique than conditioning. Also, as you get in better shape your technique will be easier to change and improve.
I would think that it would be difficult to just compare a number between two people, and come up with a conclusion. Maybe it could be figured out with a set of points for each person (like resting, moderate effort, full effort).
I could imagine one person having low lactate levels with their body flushing it, and another person having higher levels from being able to exert more (useful) propulsive energy.
