Can speed practice alone help long distance endurance?
Former Member
If I only practice to improve the speed in short distance, will it help increase the endurance needed for long distance? In other words, say I have trained for several months for (only) speed, could I, one day, suddenly find myself swimming long distance without feeling tired?
(Obviously the opposite is not true: simply being able to swim slow long distance doesn't help improve the speed.)
no doubt that it is useful to be able to shift into overdrive though i have never been in a situation where my life depended on it. my own experience suggests that common OW situations like rough water and aggressive thrashing packs are better handled by yielding to the offending body of water and downshifting. slowing your stroke rate down a bit and employing a near catch-up technique will do more to protect you from getting kicked in the teeth than adding to the thrashing all around............ my humble opinion........
It really depends on circumstances. Sometimes it is the best strategy to sprint free of the pack and then downshift. Other times, as you say, biding your time works better.
Lots of great distance guys swim near-catchup for almost the entire race.
But one place where speed (and a strong kick) definitely comes into play is the last part of the race.
no doubt that it is useful to be able to shift into overdrive though i have never been in a situation where my life depended on it. my own experience suggests that common OW situations like rough water and aggressive thrashing packs are better handled by yielding to the offending body of water and downshifting. slowing your stroke rate down a bit and employing a near catch-up technique will do more to protect you from getting kicked in the teeth than adding to the thrashing all around............ my humble opinion........
It really depends on circumstances. Sometimes it is the best strategy to sprint free of the pack and then downshift. Other times, as you say, biding your time works better.
Lots of great distance guys swim near-catchup for almost the entire race.
But one place where speed (and a strong kick) definitely comes into play is the last part of the race.
