Random Nonsense

Happy New Year.

I remain confused as to what constitutes aerobic. For me aerobic is a sustained effort of 30+ minutes with almost no rest. I see others, like you, refer to aerobic as a hard effort but not terribly long.

So, which is it, or could it be both?

That's a good question. I always thought of aerobic as more of a cardio based workout such as you described....usually a 30 minute set with little rest. And anaerobic would fall into the category of sprinting (high intensity, shorter distances and less breathing).

I found this definition on-line which seems to make sense.

Anaerobic exercise comprises brief, strength-based activities, such as sprinting or bodybuilding, whereas aerobic exercise is centered around endurance activities, such as marathon running or long-distance cycling.

Originally Posted by aquageek

Happy New Year.

I remain confused as to what constitutes aerobic. For me aerobic is a sustained effort of 30+ minutes with almost no rest. I see others, like you, refer to aerobic as a hard effort but not terribly long.

So, which is it, or could it be both?

I tend to class aerobic work into easy or hard as well. Perhaps EN1 is easy aerobic, EN2 is hard aerobic and EN3 is anaerobic?

Geek, Quick and Fort,

I am using hard aerobic pretty generally. It is not sprinting, it is not max efforts and it is not at a pace I can sustain indefinitely. So my hard aerobic day might have a set or two like todays set with a 1:2 work to rest ratio around 500 pace, or it might be a tight interval survival swim or it might be even more rest than today/shorter distance at 200 pace.

Zone 3/EN-2/EN-3 http://www.teamunify.com/reno/__doc_...20Swimming.pdf

The longer stuff I did this summer (T4000, hour swims, 6x500s) I would label endurance.

Originally Posted by aquageek

I remain confused as to what constitutes aerobic. For me aerobic is a sustained effort of 30+ minutes with almost no rest. I see others, like you, refer to aerobic as a hard effort but not terribly long.

So, which is it, or could it be both?

To answer your question specifically, I think it is both. Swimming at or below aerobic threshold pace, only uses aerobic energy. Going above aerobic threshold, you still use 100% of the aerobic energy available in addition to anaerobic energy. The faster you go, the less percentage wise the aerobic system contributes, but it is still contributing 100% of what is capable.

Which method is best for increasing performance of the aerobic system, I don't know.

Originally Posted by qbrain

Geek, Quick and Fort,

I am using hard aerobic pretty generally. It is not sprinting, it is not max efforts and it is not at a pace I can sustain indefinitely. So my hard aerobic day might have a set or two like todays set with a 1:2 work to rest ratio around 500 pace, or it might be a tight interval survival swim or it might be even more rest than today/shorter distance at 200 pace.

Zone 3/EN-2/EN-3 http://www.teamunify.com/reno/__doc_...20Swimming.pdf

The longer stuff I did this summer (T4000, hour swims, 6x500s) I would label endurance.

I did almost the same set as you this afternoon, and according to the "energy zones in swimming" chart on that link, I would classify the 150s as the SP1-2 group, rather than EN3. Definitely anerobic. At least that's the way I swam them. Busting *ss, 2:1 work:rest, heart rate pumping, barely able to recover in time to do it again.

One of my most favorite all time sets in college was the 20x100s Free @ 1:30, trying to maintain as fast as you can. Back then, I was at :54-:55s, having that 2:1 work rest ratio to do it again and again.

Originally Posted by jaadams1

I did almost the same set as you this afternoon, and according to the "energy zones in swimming" chart on that link, I would classify the 150s as the SP1-2 group, rather than EN3. Definitely anerobic. At least that's the way I swam them. Busting *ss, 2:1 work:rest, heart rate pumping, barely able to recover in time to do it again.

One of my most favorite all time sets in college was the 20x100s Free @ 1:30, trying to maintain as fast as you can. Back then, I was at :54-:55s, having that 2:1 work rest ratio to do it again and again.

This link makes it more clear: http://teriwenzel.tamu.edu/swimming/...%20Dummies.htm

Sample Swims and Sets

Recovery 2000 yards at low exertion

Aerobic 4 x 500 yards with 1:00 rest at moderate exertion

Mix Aerobic/Anaerobic 6 x 150 with 3:00 rest at high exertion

Anaerobic 4 x 100 with 5:00 rest at very high exertion

Creatine Phosphate 12 x 15 with 2:00 rest at high exertion