Originally Posted by
kakman
Nonsense. I don't tumble turn in races so don't do it in the pool. I don't rest at the end of the pool, I use it as an opportunity to practice broken rhythm. When you're in an IM swim with 1300 other people thrashing around you often spend a lot of time stop - starting. And yes, I do put my head up every 150-200 mtrs to sight. Oh and just to be clear, I can tumble turn just fine, I just don't see the need; in fact I tend to do it when I'm feeling lazy.
I have done my fair share of mass swim starts, and I have yet to stop or start. People tumbling on me, attacking me, etc. is just reason to continue moving forward, possibly with a little extra push if necessary. On the other hand, I spend most of the swim in front. Just seems like a better result of training, no?
When was the last time you pushed off a wall in an open water race?
Never. When was the last time you stopped and put your head up for a second? And if you do, then that must be much slower putting your head up during a stroke as open water swimmers do.
FFS, how can it be useless and wrong?? Learning to turn won't improve performance, swimming better sets or swimming in open water will.
Training for open water is not about breaking rhythm, it's about swimming. Turning creates more of a simulation of continuous swimming than stopping every 25 yards. Furthermore, swimming generally involves many drills at different intensities. One may hold the same intensity throughout the drill if turns are used. If not, unnecessary intensity spikes come up even during a long distance set thus making your sets better quality. And as for performance... well, how do you think Andy Potts trains in the pool?