Always appreciate your insights, Gordo. Thank you. I love the opening quotes. Especially; "Often, the strongest is the only athlete getting an appropriate workout."
In my experience (from both in the water, swimming, and on the deck, coaching), many squad programs are written with {a} the strongest squad swimmer in mind OR {b} the average of the group. I've not found that squads work very well for typical late-onset swimmers, especially if they are time crunched. I have had a lot more success with individualized plans, but your ideas are very helpful in maximizing what they can get from squad sessions.
For clarity, can you give your definition of a " best-average set" you mention in *1, please?
Best average-swimmers will swim _every_ set of their week in a narrow range of paces. So they end up with a lot of Z3/Z4 swimming.
An easy test set for them is 5x400, descend 1-5, on short rest. The best-average folks will have a tight range of paces, limited sense of "easy" pace and have to work very hard for small increases of pace (if any) on rep 4 & 5.
As a result, they limit:
1/ their aerobic development
2/ their ability to lift pace on their fast/sustained days
This style of training can be found across swimmers of all ability levels (as well as with other sports).
I agree with your overall assessment. For many swimmers, it's too hard for them to back off on the group. Those swimmers will need to incorporate solo swimming for their endurance work.
Often swimmers are unaware of their approach. I like descending test sets to bring awareness to their pacing tendencies.
Very helpful tips!! Thx.
Thanks Josh
Always appreciate your insights, Gordo. Thank you. I love the opening quotes. Especially; "Often, the strongest is the only athlete getting an appropriate workout."
In my experience (from both in the water, swimming, and on the deck, coaching), many squad programs are written with {a} the strongest squad swimmer in mind OR {b} the average of the group. I've not found that squads work very well for typical late-onset swimmers, especially if they are time crunched. I have had a lot more success with individualized plans, but your ideas are very helpful in maximizing what they can get from squad sessions.
For clarity, can you give your definition of a " best-average set" you mention in *1, please?
Hey Rory,
Best average-swimmers will swim _every_ set of their week in a narrow range of paces. So they end up with a lot of Z3/Z4 swimming.
An easy test set for them is 5x400, descend 1-5, on short rest. The best-average folks will have a tight range of paces, limited sense of "easy" pace and have to work very hard for small increases of pace (if any) on rep 4 & 5.
As a result, they limit:
1/ their aerobic development
2/ their ability to lift pace on their fast/sustained days
This style of training can be found across swimmers of all ability levels (as well as with other sports).
I agree with your overall assessment. For many swimmers, it's too hard for them to back off on the group. Those swimmers will need to incorporate solo swimming for their endurance work.
Often swimmers are unaware of their approach. I like descending test sets to bring awareness to their pacing tendencies.
G
Thanks for the quick reply and clear explanation, Gordo.