Rappstar wrote:
You continue to miss the point that perfect practice is virtually impossible without appropriate fitness. Furthermore, perfect practice really isn't necessary to swim a reasonably fast time for 1500m/1900m/3800m in open water. It just isn't. Snip
And, it's worth pointing out, that just like with swimming, if you log enough miles in the saddle, you'll figure out your bike position. Just like you'll figure out a lot about your swim stroke with enough hard yards in the pool.
I guess the question boils down to...what is a 'reasonably fast 1500/1900/3800 time?
I used to swim with an Australian triathlete who was doing 35k per week (by herself), and couldn't break 25 minutes for 1500 metres. To my thinking, that is slow. To faster swimmers than me, it is terrible. To slower swimmers than 25.00, it could be reasonable.
I had a swim with her, and it was comical. She could go all day, but so inefficient... She then joined up with my swim coach, and swam half that amount of kms, with drills (and most importantly - feedback) incorporated in each session, and the last 400 tt she did before retiring (due to a congenital problem) was 5.16, and her last 1500 was 20.00. By the time she retired, she was state champion, and racing elite at the AUS nationals.
Some people are more naturally talented & have a better natural swim stroke than others.
35kms per week didn't help her get fast. It didn't help her find technique, either.
She was extremely fit whilst going slow, though.