I’ve recently been playing an hour or two of tennis instead of my “recovery” 30-45 minute runs. I plan on keeping up w/ this and playing 2-3 times a week b/c it’s a lot of fun and turns into a pretty good workout. Do any of you guys mix in different sports during the tri season to keep things interesting?
Surfing was my primary sport for many years before I got serious about triathlon. I hardly do it any more, because my free time is limited and I’ve been stressing triathlon training for a few years. But when I start to get burned out, I surf and call it a “strength building swim workout” - although it has little aerobic value, it is wonderful therapy for my soul. And sometimes when I don’t want to run, I rollerblade, cleverly fooling myself into believing that the crosstraining benefits are good for me, but since I don’t wear a HRM when I rollerblade, who really knows if it’s doing me any good. It’s good to mix it up a little - helps you keep your sanity.
Tennis is enjoyable. I did some league play last summer. I often wondered about the fitness asect and came to the sorry conclusion that it didn’t help a bit. It just isn’t very sustained. Once and a while you’re forced to sprint, but only 30ft? Usually you’re shuffling and mostly you’re standing around. I did notice that after a hard ride, my quads weren’t real snappy trying to get the jump on the ball. I thought that was beneficial (sort of like squats).
Any way you look at it though it’s better than TV time. Plus it can just be darn fun. Especially, since that form of competition is more focused (man vs man). In tri, who the hell knows where anyone is in your AG. You just don’t see your competition it seems (as a MOP opinion). It funny that I think the competition in tennis is man vs man considering how most people approach it as a “gentlemans game”. I play ugly (and a little mean?), but it’s always enjoyable for me.
Maybe analyzing it isn’t worth it. Just play and enjoy. Burns
I play tennis 2x/wk. It rocks as a cross-training sport. It works if you play singles (no doubles!) and keep it moving. I often play continuous points for an hour. No keeping score, no resting between points, whoever has a ball serves. This keeps the heartrate up. Its more beneficial the better you are, for sure - faster pace, more sustained points, more side-to-side sprinting. No lobs with the “occasional 30-ft sprint” - mash it out, work the corners, take no breaks. An awesomely exhilirating sport.
Hell, with a description like that, I’m getting fired-up about playing again. Now that seems like a decent workout. maybe the key is to forget about league play.
Burns
PLEASE give me a freaking BREAK. If it’s a recovery day than “play” tennis. But don’t fool yourself by thinking you can “play” tennis and somehow get greater gains than you would if you were on your bike or running even :45. I only agree that it’s better than sitting in front of the t.v. eating a pint of Rocky Road. But other than that it is limited at best.
PLEASE give me a freaking BREAK. If it’s a recovery day than “play” tennis. But don’t fool yourself by thinking you can “play” tennis and somehow get greater gains than you would if you were on your bike or running even :45. I only agree that it’s better than sitting in front of the t.v. eating a pint of Rocky Road. But other than that it is limited at best.
Burt, I didn’t say you’d get greater gains than biking or running, especially if your one and only goal is improving your triathlon time. That wasn’t the context of the original question. It’s cross-training - it’s breaks up the monotony, works other muscles, gives you something to look forward to. Again, the casual USTA 3.0 player (ranking system, like a triathlon BOPer) will not benefit as much. Better tennis players (USTA 4.5 and above, like FOPers) who mash the ball, have sustained rallies, and work the corners, will get tremendous benefit. I can tell you I enjoy tennis more AND get more out of it than an equal time spent at biking. Not the same for a chronic lobber. Maybe you’re not exactly Agassi out there and tennis isn’t for you, that’s fine. But tennis is undeniably a super workout if you do it right and have decent skills.
I was playing racquetball 2x a week until I developed an achilles problem a couple months ago. Hopefully I’ll get back on the court this week. I find it more fun than tennis because I can just hit the crap out of the ball and not have to worry too much about where it’s going. I know I’m not getting a “workout” per se, but I am sweating a lot and more importantly, it’s a lot of fun (except when I lose).
I think people tend to overlook the explosive speed necessary to play tennis/racquetball. I know one of my spiverval workouts has 4 seconds on/ 4 seconds off…so I figure it’s a lot like that.
Personally I think more fun activities should be included in training programs instead of just going out and pounding out the mileage day in and day out. Our xc ski team used to play soccer once a week…but the key to it was, you always had to be moving. Sitting back on defense wasn’t allowed.
it’s like everything else in life…balance…those who only do the three sports involved in triathlons eventually go the way of the other 75% (a number that just came to my head with no data of any sort to substantiate…so just let it be) of the people in the sport who give up after a certain time from boredom. The same can be said of anyone who trains completely and specifically for one sport. Youre’ gonna burn out. I don’t play tennis near as much as I should but I think it is a great way to work some of the muscles that go into stabilizing the body. Nothing like using muscles you never use to remind you of how specific you’ve become in the sport. Is it going to lower your times…maybe not…is it going to keep you from getting injured…maybe (might get a few tennis related ones though)…is it going to give your brain a break from looking at the bottom of a pool, the front of your aero bars, the road under your feet…your’re damn right it is. And if that alone is enough to prolong your life in the sport then it is worth grabbing a racquet and hitting the courts.
Game on!
I’m with Burt. Tennis will not make you a faster triathlete. Last year I cut down a big tree in my yard. For two weeks I was out there with an ax chopping it up. The whole time I was thinking this is a good workout. About a week later I read the following quote in one of the main triathlon training books, “you will not become a better triathlete by chopping wood, you will become a better wood chopper.”
You hit it dead on. I’ve become a bit burned out and have enjoyed getting out and active w/ some of my non-tri-friends. The post was really just to see if anyone else does this sort of stuff too, not really having anything to do with improving race times. I’m sure a 30-45 minute run would be better for running that tennis, but then I wouldn’t get to play tennis. It should be interesting to see what happens to my times…
Tennis = interval training
Interval training = most effective way to raise v02 max
Tennis = Good
Also a good core workout. Plus, it keeps you from becoming an overly obsessive triathlete, not that that ever happens…
Lehmkuhler
I wouldn’t be surprised if your triathlon performance IMPROVES with tennis in your life!
The worst thing you can do for yourself is convince yourself that you have to do xyz for swim/bike/run to chase some performance standard while you’re actually burned out on swim/bike/run. Not only will you drain yourself mentally and emotionally, but you won’t be performing that well.
Best to deconstruct everything and get back to what makes you smile. Performance always come with inner peace.
Christ. I sound like a Monk!