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
I got all these "personalities" and battles going on in my head each season ... This year, I trained 3 weeks as a 1500 swimmer / 3 weeks as an 800 swimmer / 3 weeks as a 400 swimmer and so on.
I did race an 800 and a 1500 this year - so that automatically disqaulifies me from being a sprinter and makes me a "dog" for the year.
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Former Member
I got all these "personalities" and battles going on in my head each season ... This year, I trained 3 weeks as a 1500 swimmer / 3 weeks as an 800 swimmer / 3 weeks as a 400 swimmer and so on.
I did race an 800 and a 1500 this year - so that automatically disqaulifies me from being a sprinter and makes me a "dog" for the year.
