Ultra Short Training At Race Pace

Leslie, you may be right. Different strokes for different folks. A good area for future research. But I will mention one further thing. USRPT is based in science, and the science says that pace and mechanics are inextricable. Change the pace, and the mechanics change, whether you are aware of it or not. You cannot train at one pace and expect optimal mechanics at another pace. 100 meter and 50 meter mechanics, for example, are not interchangeable. The science also says that the more yardage you train at a specific pace, the more perfect your mechanics will become at that pace. Swimming requires sophisticated technique, unlike distance running, so the question becomes, how do you maximize yardage at a specific race pace? Dr. Rushall created USRPT to answer that very question. The conventional method involves long repeats, often half the event distance, and long rest intervals, which create the kind of fatigue that requires at least two days recovery (longer as you get older). This limits the weekly yardage that can be accomplished at race pace, which limits improvement in propelling efficiency. The science also says that there is a point of diminishing returns as to how much improvement can be obtained by way of conditioning alone, that after a point further speed can only come by way of sharpened skill. You say USRPT is based on science. There is no doubt that the science behind USRPT for 100s and 200s is very compelling. It is also very clear that the science behind USRPT is not as compelling for 50s training. Dr. Rushall has stated multiple times that 50s are a different animal compared to longer races - from the physiology to the technique. He does not have the lactate graphs to back up his training methods for 50s as the are not as relevant. I think Dr. Rushall is in the process of building out exactly what he believes about 50s as he barely addressed them his first few bulletins. I look forward to the day that his thoughts on 50s are as well developed as his thoughts on 100s and 200s.

Leslie, you may be right. Different strokes for different folks. A good area for future research. But I will mention one further thing. USRPT is based in science, and the science says that pace and mechanics are inextricable. Change the pace, and the mechanics change, whether you are aware of it or not. You cannot train at one pace and expect optimal mechanics at another pace. 100 meter and 50 meter mechanics, for example, are not interchangeable. The science also says that the more yardage you train at a specific pace, the more perfect your mechanics will become at that pace. Swimming requires sophisticated technique, unlike distance running, so the question becomes, how do you maximize yardage at a specific race pace? Dr. Rushall created USRPT to answer that very question. The conventional method involves long repeats, often half the event distance, and long rest intervals, which create the kind of fatigue that requires at least two days recovery (longer as you get older). This limits the weekly yardage that can be accomplished at race pace, which limits improvement in propelling efficiency. The science also says that there is a point of diminishing returns as to how much improvement can be obtained by way of conditioning alone, that after a point further speed can only come by way of sharpened skill. You say USRPT is based on science. There is no doubt that the science behind USRPT for 100s and 200s is very compelling. It is also very clear that the science behind USRPT is not as compelling for 50s training. Dr. Rushall has stated multiple times that 50s are a different animal compared to longer races - from the physiology to the technique. He does not have the lactate graphs to back up his training methods for 50s as the are not as relevant. I think Dr. Rushall is in the process of building out exactly what he believes about 50s as he barely addressed them his first few bulletins. I look forward to the day that his thoughts on 50s are as well developed as his thoughts on 100s and 200s.