My masters coach, who used to coach high schoolers, insists that we do (lately all) kick sets with running shoes (all stroke kicks, usually 5 sets of 100 or 2 hundred). I absolutely hate it! I can't feel the water on my feet, I feel like it's way too much effort to make any positive forward movement, and don't see how it will make me a faster swimmer. :bitching: So, am I just a big whiner, or do any of you see any benefit from a masters swimmer swimming with running shoes?
At Cal in the early and mid 1980s, we used to kick with running shoes, crawl on our hands (with our feet supported by "wheels") up puke-covered ramps in the football stadium, etc etc. We also pulled with paddles the size of refrigerator doors, FWIW.
I'd like to think that just because some great coaches use(d) certain training techniques, doesn't mean they're still "best practices" or applicable to athletes of all ages and abilities...
Former Member
Good article, Coach T. So I guess my coach is not crazy or delusional (at least not as much as I thought he was). I still don't think I will look forward to shoe sets, but I will try to remember that if they don't kill me, they will make me stronger.:fish2:
I don't think mental toughness should be a required part of Master's practice.
I have done kick sets with shoes, and I never saw any benefit. It certainly would make me look for another team if the coach thought they should be a regular part of practice.
Former Member
By the dates, we are close to the same age. Would you like to do that kind of workout now? :cane:
Yes and no. I was in the best shape of my life then, and was actually able to swim a 200 *** without dying. I still incorporate certain elements of the training we did then into my workouts now - speed-assisted swimming, running stadium steps, core work, drills, hypoxic work, etc etc.
But swimming 15,000+ meters a day was not the best thing for me personally. So I think that I train "smarter" now, in my old age.
I have decided with everyone's input, to permanently rebel and no longer bring my shoes to practice. This is swim practice, not track practice. I don't enjoy it and have decided that I will not benefit from it. Thanks for the input.:fish2:
Former Member
There may be legitimate reasons for using them occasionally, but that isn't one of them.
Agreed -
I am a very fast kicker and I have tried it -- there no risk of any damage - well at least a LOT LESS than any zoomers may have.
You do feel the extra weight on the feet on the up kick and don't have any feel for the water. I was amazed how much it slowed me down. I think the real benefit comes when you take the shoes off - you actually feel like you are wearing zoomers.
Former Member
Agreed -
I am a very fast kicker and I have tried it -- there no risk of any damage - well at least a LOT LESS than any zoomers may have.
You do feel the extra weight on the feet on the up kick and don't have any feel for the water. I was amazed how much it slowed me down. I think the real benefit comes when you take the shoes off - you actually feel like you are wearing zoomers.
That would be a great reason to wear them... for a 25.
I heard Scott Thompson,who is one heck of a good Masters coach ,say"you should listen carefully to what your coach says,and then do what you think is right."I did kicking with shoes in HS in the 60s.They are very bad for breaststrokers.
