What would you consider as the most important reason to include kicking in your workouts?
Also, what do you see as the main difference and purpose between the exercises kicking with a board and kicking without a board?
I have not noticed any effect on my swimming. With that said, if weight training would have an effect then it definitely would be on the very short 50m. sprints.
However, perhaps your times have improved because your technique has improved.
Right now I have moved from heavy low rep lifting to experimenting with circuit training emphasizing little rest between exercises. I feel that this has helped my conditioning greatly - both muscular and c/v.
My times drops are no doubt completely and utterly due to my magic-cheating-dirty-ruined the sport tech suit. :angel:
I haven't changed my technique, except for more emphasis on SDKs. I have been focusing on 50s and that's where my greatest time drops have occurred. Though my 100s have similarly benefited.
The problem with weights is that there has been no long term study on swimmers. That 6 week Costill study that Jim Thornton always cites is a joke. It's a very small sample over a very short time period. You can't measure the benefits of lifting in 6 weeks.
Interestingly, I've grown a bit weary of the heavy low rep lifting myself. (And, really, I am not very strong except possibly for my age). After my taper meet in December, I'm going to shift more into circuit training/plyo training/bodyweight exercises. I've added plyos lately, and really enjoy them.
But, as to kicking, I'm sold on its benefits. Perhaps my improvements are due more to kicking than weights.
I have not noticed any effect on my swimming. With that said, if weight training would have an effect then it definitely would be on the very short 50m. sprints.
However, perhaps your times have improved because your technique has improved.
Right now I have moved from heavy low rep lifting to experimenting with circuit training emphasizing little rest between exercises. I feel that this has helped my conditioning greatly - both muscular and c/v.
My times drops are no doubt completely and utterly due to my magic-cheating-dirty-ruined the sport tech suit. :angel:
I haven't changed my technique, except for more emphasis on SDKs. I have been focusing on 50s and that's where my greatest time drops have occurred. Though my 100s have similarly benefited.
The problem with weights is that there has been no long term study on swimmers. That 6 week Costill study that Jim Thornton always cites is a joke. It's a very small sample over a very short time period. You can't measure the benefits of lifting in 6 weeks.
Interestingly, I've grown a bit weary of the heavy low rep lifting myself. (And, really, I am not very strong except possibly for my age). After my taper meet in December, I'm going to shift more into circuit training/plyo training/bodyweight exercises. I've added plyos lately, and really enjoy them.
But, as to kicking, I'm sold on its benefits. Perhaps my improvements are due more to kicking than weights.
