Hi,
Relatively new to swimming - only started last May, but have become obsessed with the sport. So much so that I have done a fair amount of reading on how to best workout and properly train the correct energy systems for the appropraite purposes (sprinting, middle distance, and long distance events). I have not yet competed, but want to, perhaps next year. I am a 47 year old male, 5'11"+, about 195 Lbs. (need to lose about 10-15 more, but have already dropped about 35 lbs since I started swimming). From my reading, apparently one key to proper training seems to be determining your Anaerobic Threshold speed. This will help you determine your EN1, EN2, EN3 training paces. But I am confused by all the different ways that it can be calculated, and what appears to me to be able to produce wildly different results, even using the same method. Any comments on this point? And what method (except for actual blood testing) do you recommend?
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Former Member
Ande wrote:
isn't anaerobic threshold training about doing long sets, fairly hard, with short rest to identify the point where you can sustain a hard pace, where as if you were to slightly increase your effort you'd start using your anaerobic system, which would cause you to greatly fatigue and shut down.
The way you've worded it suggests that there is key point you are missing here that is really important.
If you cross AT, you do not just start using your anaerboic system . You don't switch from one to the other. You're always using both. If you're working below your AT, you're still using your anaerobic system, and if you work above your AT, you're still using your aerobic system. The two ALWAYS work in tandem. That's human physiology, and any swimming literature that explains it otherwise is wrong.
Here's the difference. The Anaerobic system produces by-products which when accumulated in the blood and muscles, interfere with performance. When you workout below the AT, you are accumulating at a slow enough rate that you can flush out your system without it being a problem. But, when you cross over the AT, your desired intensity requires you to put more demands on your anaerboic system, and produce more acidic byproducts that cannot be flushed out fast enough. So, you start to fatigue quicker.
The point is that you don't switch from one system to the next. It's not "Anaerbobic on, aerobic off". You can work out beneath the AT and still stress and improve the anaerboic system. You can also work above the AT and improve the aerboic system.
Ande wrote:
isn't anaerobic threshold training about doing long sets, fairly hard, with short rest to identify the point where you can sustain a hard pace, where as if you were to slightly increase your effort you'd start using your anaerobic system, which would cause you to greatly fatigue and shut down.
The way you've worded it suggests that there is key point you are missing here that is really important.
If you cross AT, you do not just start using your anaerboic system . You don't switch from one to the other. You're always using both. If you're working below your AT, you're still using your anaerobic system, and if you work above your AT, you're still using your aerobic system. The two ALWAYS work in tandem. That's human physiology, and any swimming literature that explains it otherwise is wrong.
Here's the difference. The Anaerobic system produces by-products which when accumulated in the blood and muscles, interfere with performance. When you workout below the AT, you are accumulating at a slow enough rate that you can flush out your system without it being a problem. But, when you cross over the AT, your desired intensity requires you to put more demands on your anaerboic system, and produce more acidic byproducts that cannot be flushed out fast enough. So, you start to fatigue quicker.
The point is that you don't switch from one system to the next. It's not "Anaerbobic on, aerobic off". You can work out beneath the AT and still stress and improve the anaerboic system. You can also work above the AT and improve the aerboic system.
