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?
Parents
Former Member
401kman,
Keep having fun! That's the best part of being athletic.
PSYNCW,
It depends how much rest you're talking about. Does 5 extra seconds allow you to go the pace your coaches want you to go? Well, I won't tell them how to coach, but it might not be a big deal. But, if you're asking for 10 seconds or more, then you'll be getting too much rest and recovering too much between reps, even if you're going faster.
Now, let's say that they want you to swim 20 x 100 on 1:10 holding 1:05, and you just can't seem to get past number 10. Well then, you could try to swim 3 sets of 9 x 100 at 1:10 holding 1:05. You will actually be spending MORE TOTAL VOLUME at the pace they want you to sustain. In between each round, you allow yourself to recover JUST A LITTLE BIT. This might help you develop the ability to swim 20 straight through at the desired pace, instead of just swimming 20 until you finall make it.
Now, I'm not your coach, so if you go to them and say "That guy from ICoachSwimming.com said I should do this, not what you do," I will deny all knowledge of any conversation.
Good luck!
Ryan
401kman,
Keep having fun! That's the best part of being athletic.
PSYNCW,
It depends how much rest you're talking about. Does 5 extra seconds allow you to go the pace your coaches want you to go? Well, I won't tell them how to coach, but it might not be a big deal. But, if you're asking for 10 seconds or more, then you'll be getting too much rest and recovering too much between reps, even if you're going faster.
Now, let's say that they want you to swim 20 x 100 on 1:10 holding 1:05, and you just can't seem to get past number 10. Well then, you could try to swim 3 sets of 9 x 100 at 1:10 holding 1:05. You will actually be spending MORE TOTAL VOLUME at the pace they want you to sustain. In between each round, you allow yourself to recover JUST A LITTLE BIT. This might help you develop the ability to swim 20 straight through at the desired pace, instead of just swimming 20 until you finall make it.
Now, I'm not your coach, so if you go to them and say "That guy from ICoachSwimming.com said I should do this, not what you do," I will deny all knowledge of any conversation.
Good luck!
Ryan
