Though my form still needs a lot of work, I am considering starting strength training in the near future, since I have read about how it can help swimming speed, form, etc.
However, I am still struggling with the idea of why strength training is needed. Lets assume that lifting a certain weight in a certain way improves a core muscle, which will help steady my posture (?).
Now assuming I don't weight lift, but instead try to hold the proper posture (high elbow, etc.) for a long period of time, and gradually increase the time I do that over weeks and months, won't those muscle(s) automatically improve?
It seems to me that intuitively the proper muscles would gradually get stronger in order to adjust to the frequent usage - that way the exact muscles I need would get stronger, instead of having to train a large array of muscles that have a relation to swimming.
What am I missing?
I started mixing my workouts with a home-based workout that features a cross-training regime with plyo, yoga, cardio, kenpo, stretching and weights. I am 50 years old and never worked out with weights even during my competitive years. I've found these types of workouts extremely helpful. I swim three times a week and dryland three times a week. I feel better, practice better, and we will see if it adds to a faster swim. I can't see how it wouldn't.
I started mixing my workouts with a home-based workout that features a cross-training regime with plyo, yoga, cardio, kenpo, stretching and weights. I am 50 years old and never worked out with weights even during my competitive years. I've found these types of workouts extremely helpful. I swim three times a week and dryland three times a week. I feel better, practice better, and we will see if it adds to a faster swim. I can't see how it wouldn't.
