OK, I'm a Dinosaur. I actually like sets like 10x100 on the same interval all the way through.
Why do all of the sets have to have some kind of break in stride or change in interval or undefined purpose today? I have been swimming in Masters long enough to know that our bread is buttered by the fitness swimmers and their singular lack of desire to compete. But do the coaches believe that we are all ADD enough not to be able to complete one set on one interval ? Or do we as swimmers really pose such a dilemma that the coaches do the very worst thing possible - try to make every one happy. The ultimate result of that is to make virtually no one happy.
If you are giving a set to your swimmers, can you tell them what it (the set) should accomplish for them? What they should get out of it? If you simply gave the same set oveer and over again every day, it would become boring, of course. But it would also become a benchmark to which each swimmer could chart his or her progress. A desireable outcome by any standard, I would venture.
I fully realise that the Masters coach is handed a bewildering array of talent and motivation with his swimmers, but you, as a coach, do not have to confuse, bewilder or befuddle your swimmers with meaningless or useless sets. Keep them simple and straghtforward, with one defining mission per set. There is nothing surer to get me to go home as a (competitive) swimmer than a set with multiple intervals and distances, changing intensity and changing strokes. And don't deny that you give such sets. Many coaches thrive on designing sets that are like circuit training in the water. I would go on and on, but I have to get up early to find out what new torture my coach has in store. Take it away, folks.
Former Member
I think Michael raises some good points. Is there "science" behind the mixed sets? In Swimming Fastest, Maglischo seems to discourage these. Today I worked out on my own, swam 4 sets of 4x150, descending each set. The last set was the fastest. Simple (didn't need to write it down), and I got a good workout.
everyone has a valid point, and short of ruining a practice for others in your lane, I think adapting a practice to fit your own needs is OK in masters.
But what struck me about the posts was that there seems to be a communication breakdown between coach and swimmer. If you don't know the focus of a particular set, why not ask?? As well, I find it helpful to communicate with my coach about my goals - not something to be undertaken between sets or two minutes before practice starts...
I cannot understand why coaches who have 5 or 6 lanes can't set the workouts for the strokes people can swim, crawl, fly, backstroke, breaststroke, and let the swimmers choose the workout they want. I believe workouts should be stroke specific.
Wow, you'd love my workouts...
A mix of moderate paced 1000s and fartleks (usually 1000-2000 with sprints every 25 to 75 yards randomly thrown in).
But then I don't set my workouts ahead of time, and I coach myself. :)
Mike---
I totally agree that many coaches do a poor job educating their minions regarding sets' purposes. A point I always attempt to stress is the 'why' of a set----connecting the dots for kids and adults alike (combining the lecture and lab if you will). Random constructs often aren't anything but that. Creative shouldn't be confused with nonsensical.
Some swimmers do prefer predictable routine, no matter how persuasive your lobbying. Give 'em the same stuff all the time, and as long as physical exhaustion sets in, the endorphins offset any other focus they may require. Unfortunately, this mindset reduces the ultimate benefit they'll derive. The horses have been led to water, but.....you know the line. Personal agendas are something we really can't do anything about. Those swimmers end up providing more fiscal benefit and are 'easy customers' more than anything----don't mind being politically incorrect about it.
Thanks for clarifying as well as noting an on-deck weakness many coaches have.....do they have a suggestion box at your program to register such comments?
Cheers.
Geochuck - you make a great point: There are folks who certainly cannot do some things due to physical limitations. If your coach can't work with you on that, then what IS the point? If you can't work it out with them, you probably are better off on your own, and thats too bad.
When I did have a deck coach (*** Jackson, Pennypack Aquatics outside Philly), one of the first things I talked to him about was what his expectations were. The last thing I wanted was a "gung-ho, do it all, and make every practice on time or don't bother coming" kinda guy. His only requirement was that we competed. He wanted to see us progress. He made great attempts to design workouts for all levels (we ran the 19-90 gambit) and "choice" strokes. He kept it fun, and his "payment" for spending his time with us was watching us get better. I'm sure I was lucky. (Thanks ***.)
While fitness and a getting better were my goals, I certainly wasn't going to be working out with that team if I wasn't going to enjoy myself too. I guess that all helps explain why I miss having a deck coach. Of coure Mo, you're filling in pretty well yourself. 7 months of those workouts and I've lost over 20lbs and I'm competing in the annual Peaks to Portland swim this Saturday: 2.4 mile open water swim in Portland Harbor, Maine. Wet Suits allowed, but not required! Brrrrrr. (Feel free to think of that as 87x50's Valhallen! :) )
One thing thats been overlooked in this discussion is that a good deal of us are now swimming w/o coaches. After a few years of having a deck coach I definitely miss it. Sorry, but a lot of these posts are starting to sound like you're taking it for granted. Take what you can!
IMO, the best aspect of having a deck coach is that the workouts are NOT consistent. In any athletic endeavor, variety is what keeps you, and your body, progressing. If you do the same thing day in and day out, your body will eventually adjust and you won't get any better. As someone else stated, I love Mo's workouts. Stroke work on some days, sprints another, distance another. When I blew out my knee and breatstroke wasn't an option I just doubled up on another stroke. Try fly..its fun. :-)
I'm also reading a lot of "I'm only this kind of swimmer" or "I don't swim that". Try it! The more well rounded a swimmer you are, I think the more challenged you'll be. Its rewarding for me. Even you sprint guys could use a 1650 from time to time. :-)
jkurlanski
Some of us cannot do certain things in the water and if the workouts that are given don't meet our requirements why do them with a reacreation center coach who read MO's workout and enterprets it in his , or her own way and then throws in a work out of 50% drills and 50% of strokes that I cannot do eg breaststroke nothig else, I personally refuse to do them. I am not bashfull, I would rather work on my own and design my own workouts and steel stuff from MO's or Ande etc etc. Most of these reacreation coaches are taking money under false pretenses...
Well...This thread has shown how difficult it is to do just what the title suggests... "Consistency". If you put together a team of the 10-12 of us who have participated here, you would be challenged to put together workouts that appeal to all without having about 8 different workouts laid out for each day!
:D
