How do you determine whether you would be better off training and racing sprints or distance events?
I'm back into competitive training this winter after ~2 decades since high school. I used to coach age group, and I've been hitting some master's practices, so I'm not without direction for what I should be doing to get back in shape. I am, however, clueless about distance swimming.
I have no exposure to distance racing or training so I am starting to read up on it (Maglischo). In high school, with the longest event being the 500 free, everyone was a "sprinter" whether they were suited to it or not.
Since I'm basically rebuilding myself from the ground up, I am wondering whether I might give distance a try? What sorts of physiology, technique or psychology lend themselves to doing distance as opposed to sprinting? Or does this not really matter for a nearly 40-year-old masters swimmer that's been out of the pool for nearly forever?
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Former Member
For getting back in shape, train middle distance or distance. It is quicker to build endurance than speed and volume burns more calories, so the combination of those two should provide the most rewarding return to swimming. You should see steady improvement.
As for what you are suited too, I could make all kinds of derogatory comments about how boring distances swimmers are, and how lazy sprinters are, and how awesome middle distance swimmers are, but I won't. Instead, just don't worry about it. You need an aerobic base to train seriously for any of them, and while you are building that base you will figure out what you like to swim and what you like to swim will probably be influenced by what you are good at. If it is not, who cares, this is masters, you enjoyment comes first and you can always change your mind.
For getting back in shape, train middle distance or distance. It is quicker to build endurance than speed and volume burns more calories, so the combination of those two should provide the most rewarding return to swimming. You should see steady improvement.
As for what you are suited too, I could make all kinds of derogatory comments about how boring distances swimmers are, and how lazy sprinters are, and how awesome middle distance swimmers are, but I won't. Instead, just don't worry about it. You need an aerobic base to train seriously for any of them, and while you are building that base you will figure out what you like to swim and what you like to swim will probably be influenced by what you are good at. If it is not, who cares, this is masters, you enjoyment comes first and you can always change your mind.
