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?
Let me boil it down for you.
You are a sprinter if you say you swam 2 hours but that includes waking up, driving to the pool, changing, your 5 minute swim, hot tub, shower, drive home, nap, and 27 paragraph blog entry.
You are a distance swimmer if you actually swam those 2 hours.
Sprinters weep easily also and are quite defensive, which you will see within minutes of this post.
Let me boil it down for you.
You are a sprinter if you say you swam 2 hours but that includes waking up, driving to the pool, changing, your 5 minute swim, hot tub, shower, drive home, nap, and 27 paragraph blog entry.
You are a distance swimmer if you actually swam those 2 hours.
Sprinters weep easily also and are quite defensive, which you will see within minutes of this post.
