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Any training benefit to mixed stroke swimming

Joseph LombardiJoseph Lombardi
in General Training Discussions
So my community has a lap pool that I often hop in at the end of the day or on the weekends after my long ride/run etc. Question...I will often hop in for a relaxing 1500-2000m of mixed stroke swimming (breast, back, free)...is this of any training benefit?

Comments

  • Brad MarcusBrad Marcus
    @Joseph- I've been told by a masters coach and a chiro that swimming with other strokes balances out the different muscles in our body, thus supporting the primary muscles that we use when we swim freestyle. That being said, I don't swim anything other than freestyle because I basically drown swimming back, look like I'm in a convulsive fit attempting fly, and don't get anywhere swimming breast. My wife constantly asks me to join her in her masters class, and I always decline based on these factors, if you can swim those strokes, go for it!
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    I think doing other strokes helps develop a better "feel" or catch for the pull, when the strokes are done correctly. This lack of feel or a strong catch is often the biggest weakness of slow swimmers, and adult on set swimmers, not realizing just how firm one needs to get a hold of the water to move forward.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    JL - I honestly don't think it's of much training benefit besides just general aerobic swimming. If you were swimming a bit harder, you could make the muscle balance argument, but none of us is swimming so much that this is a huge problem, I don't think.

    I think Al does make a good point about learning catch...

    Some seasons, I have specifically done some butterfly as a drill stroke. My butterfly isn't very good, but it does force you to develop some strength that is applicable to the pull of your freestyle...but I don't think that's what you're asking about. :-)
  • Joseph LombardiJoseph Lombardi

    Thank you all.....look...I figure I'm at the pool ...I'm gonna swim...but every swim can't be a workout..(ie. Freestyle sets etc.)....and like getting on the road bike once and awhile...it makes swimming fun...

    My thoughts and observations- I originally did breaststroke and free to just loosen up my muscles and relax ...but then someone told me this was a good stroke to practice the catch (sculling, dog paddle etc...do this as well..) getting a good feel for the water...as Al mentions...

    I recently added back stroke....I have read or heard that kicking on you back is a good way to get a good feel for the proper kick...and also that the backstroke helps with rotation....

    My feeling has been that this is helping with my swim mechanics ...not necessarily any aerobic or endurance benefit...but recently I was doing like 2000m of  alternating 25 or 50 breast with equal free...my goals was to be close to my "steady pace"/100 which meant if I went 50 breast slow I had to free a bit harder to balance it out....so figuratively if my steady pace of all free was 2:00 I was trying to avg. 2:00/100 over 2000m of split breast/free....and kinda thought this was a good workout...both mechanically and aerobically??

     

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