Do you Swim non stop or do intervals and drills ?

Thanks for solving this puzzle for me Kim. Now for the other part of the puzzle -- what does this mean? How does one "vote in a poll" and why? I know this is most likely a stupid question for those in the know, but I am still learning how to get around on the forum, and about all the little "tricks" available. Thanks again, Nancy

When I started about four or five years ago, I was just swimming freestyle, with hardly any intervals. For the last three years, I've been following posted coach workouts and doing all strokes. My skills and times have improved dramatically. Where a 50 fly used to kill me, now I'm doing 400 IM's without a problem. My goal this year is to complete a 200 fly at a meet. I'm almost there!

Hi all, New to this site, I just recently got back to the pool. Of course once i'm in it's hard to get out. Anyway, once I found this site. Have been interested into getting in shape just in case I'd like to compete....not sure whether I want to just compete in meets or long distance. Experienced both when I was younger, and liked both. I would like to try long distance someday. Well, I figured I'd type out what I'm doing now for a workout. 1 200 yd - free 1 200 yd - kick alternating every 50 free/dolphin kick 1 200 yd - free/back every 50 1 200 yd - free 1 200 yd - kick alternating every 50 free/dolphin kick 1 200 yd - free/back every 50 1 200 yd - IM 1 200 yd - kick 1 200 yd - free/back every 50 1 200 yd - free (warm down) I rest about 30 sec no more than a min...not really sure, but I don't rest long. I don't time myself yet. I did once not too bad...at least I am in between 3-4 min. Phew. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or Ideas so I can keep the workouts exciting. Thanks, nice meeting you all... Kim ****Have you hugged a swimmer today!!!!*****

Dear Kimberly, Do you workout on your own? I was curious because of your question about how you can make the workout more exciting. I mainly swim on my own, don't like it too much alone. Prefer swimming with others, at least some days. Our group disbanded because we lost our free pool slot and I would need to drive 1 hour to join another group. Try to swim with others if you can. It's way more fun. Swim53

I have responded in the past that I swim intervals. But on stressful days like yesterday LSD (long slow distance) is the way to go!

Originally posted by Gareth Eckley Dominick Sorry ! I should take the time to find out what your aims are in swimming before criticising your training. Especially as i have never seen you swim. If you have done a lot of open water swimming then non-stop swims would feel better for you. I guess, when you are a coach and do a lot of research in all of the ways to structure workouts to improve technique and conditioning, then you can get "hung up" on wanting everyone to swim that way ! You go for it ! It sounds as if it is working well for you.

Garth E. I never got back to you. On That criticsing. But I took it as good constructive criticisam. I really appericate any help on swimming. Any time .Have amerry Xmas and New Year. Dom. A:) :cool: :)

Dr. Phillip Whitten has the answer in his book "The Complete Book of Swimming". Lap swimmers and non stop distance swimmers are missing out on the fountain of youth. Only interval training releases natural human growth hormone (HGH). This keeps your body organs and tissues young. Ever notce that most of our great masters swimmers look 10-15 years younger than they are? It is because of the HGH released by interval training:D Ever notice distance runners look older than they are actually:mad: It is because they don't do enough interval training. Most runners know about intrevals but prefer the theory or more is better.

Breaststroker, This is an interesting idea. Could this difference in how long distance runners look possibly be realted to environmental factors? When running outdoors, one's face is pretty much totally exposed to the elements: sun, wind, cold (at least in some regions) etc. Could the hours spent like this, have an effect on one's facial appearance? Indeed, I would maintain that people who spend a great deal of time outdoors tend to appear older due to "facial weathering". With indoor swimming, the the environment is completely controlled and thus, environlemtal effects are negated. Has Dr. Whitten's hypothesis ever been tested and verified? That is, is the only reason that long distance runners look old is due to lack of interval training and thus lack of HGH being relaesed. Perhaps distance running somehow pre-selects people who look older? Also, what about distance swimmers who perhaps do not use intervals as much. Using Dr. Whitten's hypothesis, one would expect these people to look older than their interval training counterparts. If these non-interval training swimmers look younger, like other swimmers, then I would suggest that Dr. Whitten's hypothesis may need some revision. Finally, I wonder about other sports. What other timed sports rarely use intervals for training. Dr. Whitten would expect these people to look older as well. An example might be some X-country skiers or maybe some cyclists, but I am just guessing here. What other sports use intervals regularly? These people would be expected to look younger. Food for thought.

Justin, Actually the largest benefit of swimming intervals is the organs, skin is just the most visible one. Autopsies of swimmers show much younger appearing organs than chronological age. Compared to other sports we have the natural HGH advantage interval training gives us. Actually the most scientific sport is cycling, interval training is very important to them. Even distance runners know they would do better if they did intervals, but many go towards large distances (the more is better theory) that they loose all benefits. Perhaps that is why swimmers are usually the smartest groups in college:D