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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That question always reminds me of an interview I saw with Mike Bottom - big-time sprint coach. He compares it to being a "cat" or being a "dog".
The Cats are the sprinters - they don't move faster or more than absolutely neccessary but when called upon, they spring into action for one great strike. Now you can be a cheetah or a housecat - but a cat is a cat.
All other swimmers are dogs - they run around chasing balls and sticks for hours wagging their tail just for the fun of it. They will do just about anything or any swim set (100x100) for a small bone. Just as real dogs, they can not stand cats and bark at them constantly.
Chris - your picture seems to indicate more of a dog nature ? :D
I sent the interview to a bunch of my swimmers and one of them ask my if he was a cat or a dog -- he had done a 20 mile paddleboard race to Catalina a few months earlier -- I told him a true cat would be in the escort boat sleeping while he was paddling -- he was a dog.
That question always reminds me of an interview I saw with Mike Bottom - big-time sprint coach. He compares it to being a "cat" or being a "dog".
The Cats are the sprinters - they don't move faster or more than absolutely neccessary but when called upon, they spring into action for one great strike. Now you can be a cheetah or a housecat - but a cat is a cat.
All other swimmers are dogs - they run around chasing balls and sticks for hours wagging their tail just for the fun of it. They will do just about anything or any swim set (100x100) for a small bone. Just as real dogs, they can not stand cats and bark at them constantly.
Chris - your picture seems to indicate more of a dog nature ? :D
I sent the interview to a bunch of my swimmers and one of them ask my if he was a cat or a dog -- he had done a 20 mile paddleboard race to Catalina a few months earlier -- I told him a true cat would be in the escort boat sleeping while he was paddling -- he was a dog.
