Reading research on swimming, meaning research done by
“real” researchers (the ones that play with numbers) helps to make a point
about swimming. Don´t forget that we
have researches like Glenn Mills that follows his empirical researches without numbers;
he just does not lie to himself and learn from his experiences. More than 15 years ago Glenn started to play
with training counting strokes as a norm and a way to improve stroke
technique. I mentioned this in one
article of the series Physiology for Dummies.
I will continue with cadence in swimming. I spoke about cadence
running and biking. Is there a cadence in swimming? Of course, when we
see Michael Phelps swimming 100 meters his rpm is around 71 per
minute. 20 strokes less than the ones leading the peloton in an ITU race
for the same distance at the same pace. Michael phelps has at least 50
centimeters more of span length compared to any triathlete.
The swimmers that get to semifinals in the Olympics usually take 8
or 10 more strokes than the ones reaching the finals for the 100 meters
free. Popov used to do 400 meters reps in 4:30 with almost the same
length-per-stroke than swimming the 100 meters competition.
I thank Gennadi Touretski for his teaching and for being a great
teacher. When we met, I was sitting on his desk at Tenero,
Switzerland. I did not know it was his desk until he came in and ask me
who I was. I explained to him my ignorance about the place and its rules,
and above all my ignorance regarding who he was; although I had read about him.
I told him that I was watching his swimmers. When he told me who he
was, I said to him that I wanted to learn from him. I stayed with him for
two weeks, watching and listening. Once he looked at my watch and told me
to buy a watch to check cadence. I did not know they existed. I
bought one and started to count cadence with him. He introduced me to checking
cadence with the new watch. When in Switzerland, I saw Cancellara winning
the Paris-Roubaix and I was surprised he was averaging above 100 rpm.
Later on, I saw Wiggins averaging above a 100 to win a podium at the TT in the
Worlds; I was using my new watch. Gennadi introduced me to the training
of the great Alexander Popov and, of course, to measure cadence with the watch
to check quality indirectly.
Regarding the research done by Glenn, the following:
Why one subject experimentation? A tendency toward the mean will be
present most of the time because the amount of variables present when testing a
very small cohort, 20-30 or 40 subjects, does not give a statistical power;
“science does not proof, just proves.”
The experimentation is useful when we know the different variables. For instants, I have seen graphics which do
not belong to me. It is a testing of the Mexican Federation, where increasing
the pacing (decreasing the time per kilometer) when increasing the cadence,
correlates with a better outcome while competing running, compared to
increasing the time flying (increasing the stride length). When you see the outcome it is difficult to
make something out of it if you do not have a good idea about the variables,
but knowing the background it is easier.
This is the strongest reason why the tendency toward the mean exists, or
as I would say: “chance plays a major
role when we do not have an intervention for each variable.” Improving technique is an intervention. That is why Einstein said: "God does not
play dice with the universe."
Jorge Luis Borges said that he ended up being “just
citations:” “Nothing is new under the
sun.” We are animals that repeat:
13 avr. 2012
TRIATHLON PHYSIOLOGY FOR
DUMMIES AND THE TENDENCY TOWARD THE MEAN Physiology of targets when training triathlon Tenth part
Gaillard was a hard working Swiss man who gave me the
job I wanted, which I appreciate greatly.
And one of the sleep issues then was why we have slow wave sleep if the
REM sleep is the one that produces the brain proteins for “recovery?” The slow
wave sleep is the largest part of the sleep and appeared to be
unnecessary. This parallels the concept
of not training targets. Some coaches do
not give enough target training because they feel that repetitions are
enough. The targets should be present at
least every three weeks to allow a gen induction, in order to have the
mechanism to balance glucose ready for competition.
Everything said is a prelude of the search done in
France regarding the way of training that Glenn has done for many years
already.
The use of Critical Velocity in Swimming. A place for
Critical Stroke Rate.
Jeanne
Dekerle1,2
1 Human Movement
Studies Laboratory, University of Lille 2, France
2 Chelsea School,
University of Brighton, United Kingdom
For any swimmer, a
hyperbolic relationship links velocity (v) and stroke rate
(SR) to time to exhaustion (t). The asymptotes
of these relationships are called Critical Velocity (CV) and Critical Stroke
Rate (CSR). Both could be maintained, at least in theory, indefinitely. This
review presents the
origins of these two concepts, their physiological / biomechanical underpinnings
to emphasis their usefulness for training. Coaches should appreciate the ease
in using the CV
model to set training loads, monitor training effects, and predict performance.
The CSR concept is very recent and should be further investigated. However, current
available knowledge suggests there is merit in using the two parameters for
training.
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