I saw this in a post: I will swim 200 laps in a 25 meter pool. All free style. Non stop. This is done in 3 phases , !st 64 laps is moderate speed 2nd 64 laps is distance the balance is for endurance.
My first reaction was WHY ? If you swim like this you will never know how good a swimmer you could be !
Reasons why.
1.- Your range of motion becomes less as your muscles fatigue and tighten up. This leads to the long, smooth stroke that your first few lengths have, deteriorating into a short, choppy survival stroke.
2.- You can only train one energy system, Aerobic, the anaerobic & lactic systems are untouched.
3.- You cannot improve your technique unless you use drills in a progressive manner.
4.- Why not put in some drills to check your technique. For example 10 strokes of head-up free every few lengths to check you hand entry ?
5.- By only doing Freestyle you are setting yourself up for injured shoulders, with all kinds of impingement problems.
6.-Where are the Kick sets and fly kick sets to improve core body strength and awareness ?
7.-What about the joys' of fly, back and
*** ?
I put together this poll to see how people out there are training.
Parents
Former Member
Ann,
I understand completely the frustrations of swimming sets during public swimming. I train 80% of my workouts during public length swims. I have many amusing and frustrating stories.
Basically I come with 2 sets in mind. One for the ideal swim lane world which can happen! and the other for when I get caught in the 'log jams'.
One way I solved the problem is to arrange, if you can, to meet other swimmers who would also like to do the same workout. That way you are making good use of the lane, and if there are 4 or 5 swimmers the lane looks busy and the 'classic cruisers' may well choose another lane.
A few years ago I had a 'personal lane clearer'. He was a huge 6 foot 2 man, with an enormous barrel chest and a wing span of an albatros. (At 65 he was the world champion breastroker). He would stand by the edge of the pool, with his 'garbage can sized paddles' on his hands. He would leap feet first then swim some breastroke with paddles. The bow wave he produced would drown even a seasoned swimmer. Those wall flowers who hold on to the wall and kick, or do various exercises, soon moved to another lane. As did those swimmers who did sidestroke in time to a waltz.
If you are part way through a workout and you want to try to fininsh the set, try holding on to the wall, legs bunched up ready to push off. One arm extended ready to go. Look up at the pace clock, back down the lane, up at the pace clock etc. That way swimmers might wait and let you go. But only do that for less then 10 secs. Adjust the interval if you have to, otherwise you will be swimming slalom as you dodge and pass them.
I have had many workouts ' interrupted' by surprises. Like swimmers who were swimming in the lane beside me, and simply decided to pop under the lane and swim in the next lane.
I try not to let it bother me. Use them as your pace clock. Get to know their speed and do some sets where you will try and catch up to them on the wall. OR when passing see how stretched out and strong your stroke can be as you smoothly pass them. That way you won't be noticed and they will not get annoyed.
If the lane is jammed, do a lot of drills.
If it is impossible, go over to the leisure lane and do some vertical kick sets until it clears a bit.
The lifeguards are not interested in what we are doing. They are simply interested in our safety. If they speak to a swimmer and suggest they move over, they must deal with the feelings and reactions of that swimmer.
Don't forget, if you are swimming in a public pool, every one who pays has the right to come in and use the pool however they like. Be it slow or fast, relaxing and recharging or training.
Happy training.
Kiwi
Ann,
I understand completely the frustrations of swimming sets during public swimming. I train 80% of my workouts during public length swims. I have many amusing and frustrating stories.
Basically I come with 2 sets in mind. One for the ideal swim lane world which can happen! and the other for when I get caught in the 'log jams'.
One way I solved the problem is to arrange, if you can, to meet other swimmers who would also like to do the same workout. That way you are making good use of the lane, and if there are 4 or 5 swimmers the lane looks busy and the 'classic cruisers' may well choose another lane.
A few years ago I had a 'personal lane clearer'. He was a huge 6 foot 2 man, with an enormous barrel chest and a wing span of an albatros. (At 65 he was the world champion breastroker). He would stand by the edge of the pool, with his 'garbage can sized paddles' on his hands. He would leap feet first then swim some breastroke with paddles. The bow wave he produced would drown even a seasoned swimmer. Those wall flowers who hold on to the wall and kick, or do various exercises, soon moved to another lane. As did those swimmers who did sidestroke in time to a waltz.
If you are part way through a workout and you want to try to fininsh the set, try holding on to the wall, legs bunched up ready to push off. One arm extended ready to go. Look up at the pace clock, back down the lane, up at the pace clock etc. That way swimmers might wait and let you go. But only do that for less then 10 secs. Adjust the interval if you have to, otherwise you will be swimming slalom as you dodge and pass them.
I have had many workouts ' interrupted' by surprises. Like swimmers who were swimming in the lane beside me, and simply decided to pop under the lane and swim in the next lane.
I try not to let it bother me. Use them as your pace clock. Get to know their speed and do some sets where you will try and catch up to them on the wall. OR when passing see how stretched out and strong your stroke can be as you smoothly pass them. That way you won't be noticed and they will not get annoyed.
If the lane is jammed, do a lot of drills.
If it is impossible, go over to the leisure lane and do some vertical kick sets until it clears a bit.
The lifeguards are not interested in what we are doing. They are simply interested in our safety. If they speak to a swimmer and suggest they move over, they must deal with the feelings and reactions of that swimmer.
Don't forget, if you are swimming in a public pool, every one who pays has the right to come in and use the pool however they like. Be it slow or fast, relaxing and recharging or training.
Happy training.
Kiwi
