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?
I'm going to have to agree with Chris and ehoch. Except for Chris claiming that mid distance folks are "swimming gods." That seemed rather diva-ish. I would substitute the words "tools who always follow the written workout without complaint."
I think Chris and I are on the same page... but as for following workouts without complaint: 1. Complaining is annoying, so not complaining is a good thing. 2. I have no workout to follow! True story from Wednesday: a woman who often swims at the gym around the same time of morning that I do asked me if I was about to start a set. I had just finished my warmup so I said "yes, I'm about to start my main set." She wanted to swim along with me so she said "what are we doing?" Me: "Ummmmmmmm... ok, I'm going to do 50 flys on 1:15." Her: "How many are we doing?" Me: "I haven't decided yet!" After the first two I let her know that the number was 8... I descended from 200 fly race pace to 100 fly race pace... she swam freestyle... it all turned out fine in the end even though nothing was planned out.
I'm going to have to agree with Chris and ehoch. Except for Chris claiming that mid distance folks are "swimming gods." That seemed rather diva-ish. I would substitute the words "tools who always follow the written workout without complaint."
I think Chris and I are on the same page... but as for following workouts without complaint: 1. Complaining is annoying, so not complaining is a good thing. 2. I have no workout to follow! True story from Wednesday: a woman who often swims at the gym around the same time of morning that I do asked me if I was about to start a set. I had just finished my warmup so I said "yes, I'm about to start my main set." She wanted to swim along with me so she said "what are we doing?" Me: "Ummmmmmmm... ok, I'm going to do 50 flys on 1:15." Her: "How many are we doing?" Me: "I haven't decided yet!" After the first two I let her know that the number was 8... I descended from 200 fly race pace to 100 fly race pace... she swam freestyle... it all turned out fine in the end even though nothing was planned out.
