Why Trainers Say, 'Slow Down'

Real interesting line from the article... "One red flag, sports-medicine specialists say, is an intensifying obsession with performance." In swimming, would we define "performance" as faster times? Or would we broaden the definition to include efficiency of stroke? Makes one think... Another good point was the reference for the need for cross-training to reduce repetitive action injuries. I do like your idea of altering (rather than "broadening") the definition of performance to one of efficiency. My perspective is that speed in itself is not necessarily a sign of "performance". Its analogous to a vehicle that may go 140 MPH but take 15 minutes down hill with the wind at its back to get there and consume 40 gallons of gas on the way as opposed to another vehicle which can also go 140 but do it in 10 seconds and still get roughly 30 MPG (unrealistic I think, but bear with me). That being said... I should probably change up my training to work on efficiency of stroke rather than speed.... Hehehe - the clock counts all the time, whilst I forget to count my strokes!

Real interesting line from the article... "One red flag, sports-medicine specialists say, is an intensifying obsession with performance." In swimming, would we define "performance" as faster times? Or would we broaden the definition to include efficiency of stroke? Makes one think... Another good point was the reference for the need for cross-training to reduce repetitive action injuries. I do like your idea of altering (rather than "broadening") the definition of performance to one of efficiency. My perspective is that speed in itself is not necessarily a sign of "performance". Its analogous to a vehicle that may go 140 MPH but take 15 minutes down hill with the wind at its back to get there and consume 40 gallons of gas on the way as opposed to another vehicle which can also go 140 but do it in 10 seconds and still get roughly 30 MPG (unrealistic I think, but bear with me). That being said... I should probably change up my training to work on efficiency of stroke rather than speed.... Hehehe - the clock counts all the time, whilst I forget to count my strokes!