Which is harder?
I figured flipturns are necessary for training to compensate for the continuous swimming in open water, especially in choppy conditions. But I finally came to the realization that I just can't handle it beyond about a mile as the cumulative effect of flipturns take a toll and leave me gasping for air. Yet I've done several one hour open water swims (about 2 miles for me) without problem. I don't know how much of this is because I am just relaxed without a pace clock.
I'm not convinced that training with flip turns vs. open turns makes a difference in training for open water swimming unless its mental. The biggest difference in open water swimming is that my shoulders never get a rest on the turn, but that is mitigated by the more regular breathing and rhythm I get when there are no turns. I'd do whatever turns you feel comfortable with. . . and if, like me, pool training is your only option, swimming long course makes for better open water preparation.
Yeah, I've been more of a sprinter doing intervals of distances never over 200 always doing flip turns. Not doing them makes me feel like a hack and seems like a cop out, especially since I tend to want to take an extra breath on an open turn. Since hanging on the wall for a second is not an option in open water I didn't know if I was getting proper training without them, especially with the much more difficult conditions.
If I am wrong on the necessity of flip turns this makes it a lot easier. I gave up hypoxic breathing for the same reason - I just can't handle it and if I don't like it I'm not going to do it any more.
I thought I would do a couple open water races for fun and fitness during the summer, go for some training swims while I'm at the beach. I don't know what I was thinking - now I'm swimming sets like 8 x 500 which is double yardage what I did in the pool season. Distance swimming is hard as hell. But I feel like I am in better shape than ever.
