My apologies up front for asking a question that has been asked on various different threads over the past couple of years I have been in USMS. I don't remember the responses, however, and can't seem to find the answers in my searches.
Here's the deal: I started as a breaststroker and only competed in the three breaststroke events as a newbie. Seven months later, however, I competed in a pentathlon and found I really enjoyed racing the stroke sprints and 100 IM. Last year, I ended up winning my age group and felt even more encouraged to continue working on my other strokes.
Recently, I attempted an easy 400 IM in workout to see if I could swim a 100 fly without pausing at the walls. I came in at 7:24 :cane:, but it wasn't the worst in my age group in the rankings! :D
Today, after my usual three day post-meet bout of insomnia, I thought, what the heck, I'll try it again. (Yes, I AM crazy!) Again, I took the fly out very easy with the intent of surviving without rescue. My time ended up 7:16, now placing me 56 out of 71 in my age group; still low, but improved. :wiggle: So, now, I'm thinking of giving it some real effort and see where I can go with this...
50 breaststroke is my best event, followed by 100 breaststroke. After that is 50 free and 100 IM. Don't even ask where my 200 breaststroke rates... :bitching: But, my 400 IM, with some effort, will have it beat soon enough.
As a six day per week swimmer on pace to beat my goal of 400 miles for the year, how would you recommend I plan my swim week out to train 400 IM without losing breaststroke speed? I average 3,000 yards per workout and currently dedicate Mondays and Fridays to Allen's breaststroke sets or Ande's sprint IM sets that he wrote up for me. Saturday is my recovery day. September thru May, I train in a challenging coached adult program and swim 3,500 - 3,800yards; a mix of speed, endurance, etc.
Any advice or suggestions would be most appreciated! (Oh, and, by the way, I am working up to swimming 400m IM and 200yd fly, too.) :afraid:I hope to swim 400IM at Dixie Zone Championships, in August, and see where it goes from there. :worms:
Another piece of advice: work on fly technique do that your efficiency is good enough that you can do a decent 100 fly with a minimum of effort. If you have to work too hard on that first 100, the last 150 yards of the 400 IM is never very fun.
First, before I get to your fly advice, I must say the responses on this thread has been very interesting. It has sparked a very useful debate; one that benefits all of us, I think. Each poster has made valid points; all worth pondering. As a relative newbie (Before joining USMS, in 2010, I only swam in high school under a "coach" who was a P.E. teacher and didn't know how to swim), I am taking this all in and evaluating which advice will be best for me.
I am looking forward to this challenge, because I enjoyed every single one of the challenges I faced in USMS swimming before it. Ever since my first pentathlon, I have broken free of the breaststroke-only meet lineup and have enjoyed meets so much more. And, the tougher the challenge, the greater the thrill; it's exhilarating when I hit my goals. :bliss:
Now, about your fly advice... Fly is the stroke my coach has been relentless about, when I train in his program twice per week. He keeps an eye on every lap, reminding me of what I need to do to accomplish just what you said. You two think alike! And, I hear his voice in my head every time I swim fly. :agree:
Thanks, Chris!
Another piece of advice: work on fly technique do that your efficiency is good enough that you can do a decent 100 fly with a minimum of effort. If you have to work too hard on that first 100, the last 150 yards of the 400 IM is never very fun.
First, before I get to your fly advice, I must say the responses on this thread has been very interesting. It has sparked a very useful debate; one that benefits all of us, I think. Each poster has made valid points; all worth pondering. As a relative newbie (Before joining USMS, in 2010, I only swam in high school under a "coach" who was a P.E. teacher and didn't know how to swim), I am taking this all in and evaluating which advice will be best for me.
I am looking forward to this challenge, because I enjoyed every single one of the challenges I faced in USMS swimming before it. Ever since my first pentathlon, I have broken free of the breaststroke-only meet lineup and have enjoyed meets so much more. And, the tougher the challenge, the greater the thrill; it's exhilarating when I hit my goals. :bliss:
Now, about your fly advice... Fly is the stroke my coach has been relentless about, when I train in his program twice per week. He keeps an eye on every lap, reminding me of what I need to do to accomplish just what you said. You two think alike! And, I hear his voice in my head every time I swim fly. :agree:
Thanks, Chris!
