I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
A distance swimmer will fare much better in a sprint than a sprinter will fare in a distance event.
Oh, that's not true. Watching distance people try to swim fast can be pretty entertaining; the difference between their 50 pace and their mile pace is very subtle to the uneducated. (As in, it doesn't exist.)
Anyone knows that mid-D types are the only people who can master both disciplines. :)
I find it odd that the OP said something to the effect that sprint-specialists are taking over the pools. The more common masters complaint in my experience that the triathlete-like endurance swimmer -- only interested in long, boring freestyle sets at or near LT -- have taken over the pool.
As far as being able to succeed without working hard, well that only gets you so far in either discipline. And I know too many distance-types who equate "working hard" with simply "grinding out the yards." Although their workouts seem impressive and they are indeed in good aerobic form, they have one speed in practice and never deviate from it. Explosiveness and power are also things that must be earned through training.
As far as technique: while it is true that sprinters sometimes sacrifice efficiency for power, they have to pay far greater attention to detail than distance people do. A blown start or turn, these and similar things can ruin an entire season for a sprinter. The concentration required is much greater than for distance events. When you get up on the blocks for a distance event, all you need to do is be relaxed; the outcome is pretty much already determined by that point.
Not true of the sprints; the pressure of every little detail is far greater, the consequences of small mistakes can be huge. No wonder they are a little neurotic.
A distance swimmer will fare much better in a sprint than a sprinter will fare in a distance event.
Oh, that's not true. Watching distance people try to swim fast can be pretty entertaining; the difference between their 50 pace and their mile pace is very subtle to the uneducated. (As in, it doesn't exist.)
Anyone knows that mid-D types are the only people who can master both disciplines. :)
I find it odd that the OP said something to the effect that sprint-specialists are taking over the pools. The more common masters complaint in my experience that the triathlete-like endurance swimmer -- only interested in long, boring freestyle sets at or near LT -- have taken over the pool.
As far as being able to succeed without working hard, well that only gets you so far in either discipline. And I know too many distance-types who equate "working hard" with simply "grinding out the yards." Although their workouts seem impressive and they are indeed in good aerobic form, they have one speed in practice and never deviate from it. Explosiveness and power are also things that must be earned through training.
As far as technique: while it is true that sprinters sometimes sacrifice efficiency for power, they have to pay far greater attention to detail than distance people do. A blown start or turn, these and similar things can ruin an entire season for a sprinter. The concentration required is much greater than for distance events. When you get up on the blocks for a distance event, all you need to do is be relaxed; the outcome is pretty much already determined by that point.
Not true of the sprints; the pressure of every little detail is far greater, the consequences of small mistakes can be huge. No wonder they are a little neurotic.
