Racing As A Way to Improve
Racing As A Way to Improve
World famous Coach David Salo of University of Southern California gave a talk last year called “Swim Like the Cheetah Runs”. HIS MAIN POINT WAS THAT WHEN WE RACE WITH EFFORT AND ENTHUSIASM WE ENGAGE PARTS OF OUR BODY AND MIND THAT WE CANNOT POSSIBLY ACCESS IN PRACTICE.
The Cheetah of course is a cat. And has high percentages of fast twitch fibers. (They’re sprinters.)
When the Cheetah moves, it is usually at top speed because if they don’t outrun their prey, they go hungry. Cats don’t like being hungry.
How often in practice do you train with the intensity that you race with? I would suggest NEVER. (there are always exceptions of course, but not many.)
Closer to home, 1976 Head Olympic Coach and South Florida Legend Coach Jack Nelson said for 50 years…”Racing is the best training for Racing.”
There is a time in the careers and yearly plans of all athletes for solid blocks of time when the intensity is low (and usually the volume is high) and we call that building your “CAPACITY” for training. (a term from the Coach of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Michael Phelps, his coach…Bob Bowman.) This is important time. So also is the “Utilization Training” of going fast, hard, intensely and with racing skills and a hunger to succeed unreachable in practice.
When you race, your intensity levels help you develop all the skills to a higher level. You approach the wall faster, you focus on turning on the cross not looking at the wall, you flip tighter and faster, you streamline better off the wall, your breakout stroke is more meaningful, and each and every stoke is executed with purpose, determination and MUSCLE! You can’t access that very often in practice.
Sometimes it’s NOT about “only best times.” Sometimes it about developing the skills to go fast, in a racing environment. Be the CHEETAH!
