Hey everyone,
I am freestyle sprinter and recently I've been trying to improve my 100 free time which I've done (dropped about 5 seconds) but I need help with one issue in particular.
When I swim the 100 I like to swim all out from the start instead of pacing myself at the beginning then trying to turn it on near the end. I find myself starting to drag halfway through the 75 so by the time I'm on the last 25 I am extremely exhausted. I still get good times though!
My question and perhaps there are some sprinters here that can help me with this is..
are there any workouts that can help with maintaining the last half of a 100 freestyle?
I really need to build endurance for this. Also, perhaps my breathing is messed up? I prefer to breath no more than two times the first 25, no more than 3 times the 2nd 25 and I use the 3rd 25 as the length to get whatever needed air I need so I can keep my head down the last 25 as much as possible and bring it home.
Any suggestions would be a great help!
Former Member
One other thing no one has really touched on is... How are your turns? If you are not maximizing your underwaters, you're taking more strokes per race. If you can get an extra body length or two out of your underwater push on each turn, thats 4-6 strokes you won't have to take in that race. It could be like swimming a 85 or 90y race as far as your arms go... and theres some to maybe be gained on the start too.
Just something to think about.
Very good point, but I'd also suggest you experiment with which is faster. For some swimmers, maximizing underwaters makes sense because they have a powerful SDK; for others, maybe just ensuring they get out far enough to slip under the water wave and getting to the top of the water is faster.
Yes, SDK isn't for everyone, you are correct. Masters swimmers have a wide range of turn ability from superstar to superman. All I meant was to make sure the OP is making the best use of the wall. If SDK is strong then that can be added too. I get my feet out past the flags just by streamline push and not even engaging my SDK. If OP is supermanning, no streamline, and not making the flags there's definite gains to be had just on the pushoffs.
Technical programming leading up to the event, positive organization just prior, autopilot (brain-stem mode) during, then if you fail you hit the reset button. My reset button has been used exclusively for two years. I won't be needing it on June 2.
If you are serious about training to swim the 100 faster, do not get stuck looking for the perfect workout. And don't forget the brain.
Thinking through a race before you get wet is one of the most effective ways to win, if not go faster. Imagine the entire race over and over days before it happens and you will be very comfortable while swimming. Extra speed comes wrapped in many packages. Open all of them and you cannot help but go faster.
Remember, when you are hurting at 85 yards, so is everyone else. Keep your stroke together, kick hard and keep your head down. Swim all the way to the wall. The clock will still be there when you look up.
Sounds like a distance approach to racing. In sprints you have no time to think while racing so you have to think about the details before the race. Every pushoff, every streamline, every dolphin kick, every breath, and every stroke matter in a sprint. Why not think about and perhaps plan them out beforehand?
Another day, another special requirement for sprinters.
Thinking through a race before you get wet is one of the most effective ways to win, if not go faster.
I've never been a believer in this thinking through a race concept, seems overly 1970s to me. In fact, I try not to think at all during a race, which comes quite naturally to me. The more thinking you do the more you start asking yourself is it worth it for a free medal or t-shirt. So, I just shut off the brain and just go with the maxi-pain approach.
Is this advanced physics reasoning where the space time continuum is bent?
I guess I should have specified "on a percentage basis" to satisfy all the wise guys out there. In other words one second is 5% of a 20 second swim, but only
3.3% of a 30 second swim.
I've never been a believer in this thinking through a race concept, seems overly 1970s to me. In fact, I try not to think at all during a race, which comes quite naturally to me. The more thinking you do the more you start asking yourself is it worth it for a free medal or t-shirt. So, I just shut off the brain and just go with the maxi-pain approach.
Depends on what you think!!
thinking through a race concept, seems overly 1970s to me.
Sounds like a distance approach to racing. In sprints you have no time to think while racing so you have to think about the details before the race. Every pushoff, every streamline, every dolphin kick, every breath, and every stroke matter in a sprint. Why not think about and perhaps plan them out beforehand?
"You don't have time to think up there... if you think, you're dead."
