For all you who have ever competively swam

[austin316]

Phelps for example, between prelims, heats and finals will do like 18 races in seven days. A track athlete couldn't do nearly that many or he would simply burn out and be ineffective. What makes swimming different? It seems to me that when I swim I get tired and couldn't continually stay at my peak.

 

[Gravity]

I trained for about 90 days once to win a competition that my company held bi-annually. I admire those guys, I couldn't do back to back stuff like that either.

 

[RgrPark]

i guess they are in superb shape to begin with and have conditioned themselves by going through hellish training routines. Props to those olympians.

 

[puffff]

i'm guessing the difference is in track, you're running on a hard surface, which makes it much more demanding on your body. with swimming, you're doing it in water, your body doesnt quite get the pounding as it would running.

 

[GasX]

swimming puts ZERO stress on your joints. It is all about muscle stamina which can be regained very quickly.

 

[Jzero]

Those guys are tanks. League rules in my day stipulated that each swimmer could be in no more than 2 individual events, one freestyle relay and one medley relay, which was pretty much so that everyone got to swim. But I tell you what, running 4 events in a couple of hours was pretty draining in itself.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
swimming puts ZERO stress on your joints. It is all about muscle stamina which can be regained very quickly.

Exactly. If you're VERY well conditioned, it's not too much of a big deal to do 5 heats per day.

 

[Narse]

I used to swim, I did the IM, Breast and back stroke events. You are not as tired the next day after swimming as you are with something like football or running. Any of you other swimmers eat powdered jello during swim events?

 

[Sid59]

i swam for 10 years. Mainly age group swimming and high school.

but in these, you don't have prelims and finals. you swim your best and hope you win.

there'sa reason why olympic swimmers are there. i'd hate to be swim 3 x for the same event, then more if i was entered in more events.

 

[booger711]

Originally posted by: austin316
Phelps for example, between prelims, heats and finals will do like 18 races in seven days. A track athlete couldn't do nearly that many or he would simply burn out and be ineffective. What makes swimming different? It seems to me that when I swim I get tired and couldn't continually stay at my peak.

swimmers > *