|
Duane Dobko 1st into T1 at 2007 Manitou Sprint Triathlon in White Bear Lake, MN |
Duane's method of swim training caters to the fit triathlete who wants to take their swimming to the next level. His swim clinics and training camps are designed to educate triathletes about the mechanics of elite level swimming, as well as offering challenging team-oriented workouts that are a lot of fun for the entire group. Would you prefer to get pummeled in swimming slaughter or just listen to a boring coach talk? Take your stand against boredom and slowness. Say you want to be Dobkanized today!
Dobkanization - A philosophy
Dobkanization is founded on two fundamentals that all triathletes should constantly ponder when swimming fast. They are very simple to remember, and yet are very powerful and far reaching in their application. They are the following.
Fundamental 1. Water is heavier than air
Fundamental 2. Swimming is just another sport
To master Fundamental 1, you must abandon everything you know about land based movement. All those things you take for granted when you walk or run can work against you in the water. When you are running, you are pushing off the ground, not the air. In swimming, you are pushing off the water that surrounds you. As a result, your arms and legs must move differently.
To master Fundamental 2, you must take everything you know about physical education and accept that it is just as relevant in the water as anywhere else. Your heart, lungs and nervous system don't suddenly change shape just because you jump into a pool! You need to train systems and thresholds just like you do when training on the track or on the bike.
A history of Dobkanization
Back in July 2006, the Minnesota triathlon scene was abuzz with the performance of local triathlon pro David Thompson at the Lifetime Fitness triathlon. Thompson went up against a premier field and blazed a trail on the bike that was over two minutes faster than anyone else. It was too bad that he finished last out of the swim (by over a minute), which meant that he had to play a tough game of catch-up which ultimately cost him the title of best triathlete in the world.
After that race, David was extremely interested in improving his swimming. His steady rate of improvement over the years was not enough to achieve his goal of being the best with any urgency. He had to find an edge over his competitors who had superior swimming talent and experience. Duane Dobko commented that the best opportunity was to change his approach to the sport. Duane told David, "Triathlon swimming is a sprinter's game". David was intrigued.
Back then, Dobkanized swimming wasn't in-style like it is now. It was ridiculed and considered a method of swimming that was reserved for world class swim sprinters. Distance per stroke and a head down body position were touted as the keys to triathlon swimming. What moron values their fastest 50 meter sprint while training for a race that is 1.5 kilometers or more? A Dobkanized swimmer does! Such concepts can be a hard sell at first glance, but when you look at the numbers even MIT-grad David Thompson decided to stake his professional triathlon career on it.
Duane's proposed to David that being Dobkanized would make him 4-seconds per 100 meter faster with no loss of cycling and running ability. Even more ridiculous, 3 of those seconds would come before the triathlon season starts, just to prove the system. David decided to give it a try, but with a twist. If the training is so effective, then Duane should be doing the workouts he writes. No Duane, no David. Duane saw the pain to be worth the gain in the deal.
As a result, David's race performances now reflect his intense desire to win alongside his dedication to fast swimming. David did get 3.25 seconds per 100 faster before the triathlon season began. His success continued at the One O One triathlon in Clear Lake California, where he won the race with the 2nd fastest swim split of the day; a big improvement from his middle of the pack swim finishes the year before. Slowtwitch.com commented that the Minnesotan "obviously spent a lot of time in the pool in recent weeks". Insidetri.com stated that "Thompson used an eerily well-balanced race" to win. They were both right. Duane has been advising David about swimming ever since.
Duane's plan is to prove his techniques and training concepts at the elite pro triathlete level and teach all he knows to anyone interested in boosting their triathlon swim. Duane has devised a series of swim clinics that are as challenging as they are educational. Maybe you will see a clinic in your area sometime soon. Are you ready to be Dobkanized?
For a link to David Thompson's website:
www.Thompsontri.com