Long Course USRPT training

[mkmust10]

We just had our first long course meet of the season. Didn’t go very well. Kids seemed overmatched by the long course pool and seemed out of shape and had a hard time with finishing races and at times getting any speed. We have used the USRPT training method 3 days a week with traditional training on the other 3 days. We really don’t do more then 5,00o on traditional training days. My first instinct is to revert back to traditional training full time. I’m having a hard time not writing a set of 30 x 100’s on tight intervals or a 10 x 200’s set up on the board. Is there a better way to prepare my athletes for long course using USRPT then what I am doing? We have just implemented this training a month ago. We train in a 6 lane 25 yard pool. Any suggestions with our championship meet Mid July? Thanks again and love the feedback.

[oldschoolc]

You were expecting what? Are they faster now than the first LC meet last season? What is the age range of the kids? I guess I could flip that and say the TT method didn’t work either being it’s 50/50.

You say “seemed out of shape” What are their split differences i.e 1st 50 to 2nd 50 in the 100s? In the 200s what was the drop off from 1st to 2nd,then 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th? Compared to last season. How do they compare to what you are having them hold in practice (converted)?

You can write sets of 30 x 100 or 10 x 200 the just need to be specific to some race. Can they hold back 1/2 200 pace on 100s and how many can they make or 500 pace on the 200s, or do they hold 1000/1500 pace and how many can they make? We use 75s and 150s, they carry better speed. Just a thought

You state that you “implemented this training a month ago” that’s 12 days of race pace work. If you figure 3 free and 3 stroke that’s 6 of each and you are doing 3 sets per workout. If you have been recording the numbers of repeats made at RP for each workout. My guess is the numbers done aren’t very high “Accumulation of Potential” like a savings account it’s just that it hasn’t earned much interest yet, “Utilization”.

You need data to truly evaluate and without it becomes very difficult for anyone to help. Sure you can get “Well I think” and “this is what…” but without data their idea may be not be any better than yours.

"Only in America. Dream in red, white and blue"

[drpaul]

mkmust10,

There’s a lot I (we) can’t discern from your post alone but a couple things stand out to me.

1) it is waaay early in there training to see the benefits IMO. I too am only a few weeks into our USRPT and it’s taken us this long just to get going & work out the kinks in a new training style. Those neural pathways are so ingrained in them it’s going to take a while to adapt. We have a LC meet in 4 weeks & I have no clue what to expect & neither so they ta this point. I (we) just know it’s the right thing to do.

This bullet by Rushall helped me a lot
http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swim/bullets/45b%20ADAPTING.pdf

2) According to the doc, mixed training will get you mixed results so it’s impossible to tell what is going to come out of USRPT training when 50% of their training is still traditional. I’m not sure your purpose for doing this? Meaning, are you experimenting with USRPT or are you not allowed to go 100% with it?

I understand the frustration & wish you guys the best going forward

Paul

[Greg Tucker]

You either need to trust this training or not. Doing it 1/2 way and jumping back to TR after such a short period if time is crazy to me.

Greg Tucker
#USRPT

[DeeS47]

If it makes you feel any better, I’m having the same thoughts but this past weekend I had several swimmers swim both LC and SC. We definitely had some PB’s. I still have some reservations but I’m slowing adapting it to our program. Since our water time is short, my main set is always an USRP set(Or two). I try to follow the Maximum results chart laid out in Dr. Rushall’s documents.

[Author]

Posts