Masters Swim?

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2009-08-04 2:03 PM

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Lost Wages Nevada
Subject: Masters Swim?

Ok so I’m fairly new at BT and to the whole Tri world, and quite honestly feel a little intimidated to post in the “big boy” forums. This topic just seems to be one that falls more into your category. I am currently training on week 13 of a 20 week OLY program, with plans of taking a week off and then starting a 30 week IM program for St. George. I have very little organized swimming in my background although I grew up a California surf kid who later fell in love with scuba. I currently can swim a 2min 100 basically forever.

About a month ago I signed up for a master swim program to work on the stroke and truly meet some more tri peeps. I have been spending 2 days a week working with them (one day doing open water swims), but I’m not sure that I’m getting the real benefit out of the program. We show up and work on drills, and the 4 major strokes and most of the time I feel like there’s way to much rest or attention on stuff that I can’t see a need to master. I.e. butterfly kicks, wall turns, backstroke kicks…..

Starting to feel like my time would be better spent on my own getting the miles in…..

Thoughts???

2009-08-04 2:27 PM
in reply to: #2327518

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Subject: RE: Masters Swim?
VegasJason - 2009-08-04 2:03 PM

Ok so I’m fairly new at BT and to the whole Tri world, and quite honestly feel a little intimidated to post in the “big boy” forums. This topic just seems to be one that falls more into your category. I am currently training on week 13 of a 20 week OLY program, with plans of taking a week off and then starting a 30 week IM program for St. George. I have very little organized swimming in my background although I grew up a California surf kid who later fell in love with scuba. I currently can swim a 2min 100 basically forever.

About a month ago I signed up for a master swim program to work on the stroke and truly meet some more tri peeps. I have been spending 2 days a week working with them (one day doing open water swims), but I’m not sure that I’m getting the real benefit out of the program. We show up and work on drills, and the 4 major strokes and most of the time I feel like there’s way to much rest or attention on stuff that I can’t see a need to master. I.e. butterfly kicks, wall turns, backstroke kicks…..

Starting to feel like my time would be better spent on my own getting the miles in…..

Thoughts???



Your feelings are common amongst new triathletes without a swimming background.  I had the same thoughts also when I first started master's.  Here's how I think about it: Want to become a better swimmer, then train like a swimmer.

Swimming is much like golf.  It's all about stroke technique.  Spending all your time playing wall tag will make you somewhat faster, but you'll eventually reach a plataue well below your potential.  Working on stroke technique is the way to become a more efficient, faster swimmer. 

Swimming all the strokes (especially breast and back) complements the freestyle stroke.  We swim all strokes.  Although my butterfly looks more like a 'butter flop' . Kicking, wall turns, drills all help improve your stroke technique which will make you a better triathlete. 

I swim Master's 2x per week.  In addition, I swim once on my own.  This swim is usually long sets 8x400, 1000 TT, etc.  Then on the weekend I'll try to get in a quick OWS before my tri club's bike workout. 

Stick with master's...it will help.

2009-08-04 3:05 PM
in reply to: #2327518

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Subject: RE: Masters Swim?
Welcome to the 'big boy' forum. You signed up for IMSG, that means you are welcome here anytime.

I think masters is great for working on technique, motivation, ideas for new swim sets, etc. Triathlon is generally a solitary pursuit so most of us like to swim on our own. Maybe master 1-2 x week and alone 1-2x week is a good compromise.

I could argue that for a 'non-swimmer' masters is probably more beneficial, especially this far out from your IM. Why not try just masters until you start the 30 week plan to St. George? Use the next six or seven weeks for technique and stroke work, then once in while after that for reinforcement.

See you in St. George...
2009-08-04 4:09 PM
in reply to: #2327518

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Subject: RE: Masters Swim?
Sometimes it doesn't seem like it it all going 100% towards improving your speed at first. But every little bit of strengthening (by doing other strokes than freestyle) and technique work adds up, along with the sprint sets and pull sets and kick sets and everything else.

Last July I did Vineman 70.3 - that was the first time I'd ever swum 1.2 miles in open water. I had done all the swim training solely on my own.

In October, I joined a masters swim program. All the drill work over the winter felt like suffering, as my coach kept saying "you have to slow your stroke down and work on technique to get faster." In July my tri coach made me spend an inordinate amount of time on ankle band drills.

This past weekend, I raced the Vineman Barb's Race 1/2 IM on the same course. I took 10 minutes and 10 seconds off my swim time from last year. Now tell me masters didn't help!
2009-08-04 10:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Masters Swim?
I went to masters 3 times, and hated it more each time.  I don't blame them -- it just wasn't for me.  After that, I hired a coach, whom I see occasionally; and I swim alone.  I'm making slow but steady progress.  Unless that comes to a screeching halt, masters is off of my 'to do' list.  You have to do what works for you.  If masters is working (i.e,. you are seeing progress), then great; keep it up.  If not, move on to something else.  My 2c.
2009-08-05 10:17 AM
in reply to: #2327518

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Lost Wages Nevada
Subject: RE: Masters Swim?

Thanks for the advice; I will take it all into consideration. I guess when doing this amount of work day in and day out, you are always looking to make as much of it "count" as possible. There's some serious frustration for me in being in the water for an hour and 1/2 and only getting 45mins of swim in. I think my best solution might be to find a private Tri/swim coach to work with. Thanks again for taking the time to offer your opinions and I look forward to chatting with you in the near future....

2009-08-05 10:48 AM
in reply to: #2327518

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Subject: RE: Masters Swim?
I too had an issue with swimming for an hour but only getting 45 minutes of swimming in... mine wasn't as bad as yours obviously. It just didn't seem like an efficient use of my time.

When I was training for my IM my coach wasn't too keen on me going to these sessions, because I wasn't really getting the kind of distance I needed in the workouts. Swimming with the group (location, days, time) fit into my schedule perfectly. So I kept going. Sometimes I would add 500, or so to the workout at the end to add distance.

What I did enjoy about it was that I got pushed. 'Ol Tommy (ZiaCyclist) up there would be close behind my heels and I would have to make sure not to slow down. It kept me on top of my speed. Swimming alone, I can flub off and it won't matter. So my intensity by myself probably isn't want it should be.

This year I haven't gone back to train with them... simply because I refuse to get up in the morning to train. If I can fit all my sessions in after work, I'll do it that way. All that early morning stuff last year beat me down big time. So this year I'm steering clear of it.


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