By Jack, on November 18th, 2009This should be useful to me once I start my swimming training regimen. I wonder what an appropriate stroke count is for the dog paddle?
“While no reliable link has ever been found between Max VO2 and swimming speed — and there’s been a negative correlation between Muscular Power and speed — coaches and athletes still cling to the notion that work-to-rest ratios, heart rates and big paddles are what make you faster. Why? Mainly because habits are hard to break and swim training methods developed between the 1930s and 1960s still prevail today even though a growing body of evidence says that efficiency matters most. But you can make the choice to train smarter — by making stroke-counting a habit!
via beginnertriathlete.com.”
Swimming is the odd ball sport of triathlon. Unlike running and to some extent cycling, swimming is not a natural activity for us. It’s also more technique based then anything else – akin to golf or tennis. It’s more important right now to focus on technique for the free style. First learn how to swim well, then learn how to swim fast. More on this later.
A client of mine professes that, although he is “not a swimmer,” that swimming is the easiest part of the race and that he would pick it hands down to the other two events when given a choice. He says that with a good strategy, the wetsuit and some decent swim skills, it’s (almost) and cinch!
So…Jack I should learn how to swim well and then start counting strokes? Does that sound reasonable to you? Thats what I think I will try.
Yes! Learn to swim first – don’t get caught up in the “lower stroke count is bettter cycle!”
Stroke count is used as measure of power in the water – a lower stroke count, the more water (and forward propulsion) per stroke. It’s also dependnent on things like height, arm lenght, power in the kick, ect. A 5′4″ person would have a high stroke count then a 6′1″ person, all other factors the same.