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:
First of all, welcome back to all you Forumites who swam in Omaha. Congratulations on a great meet! It was fun watching the livestreaming of your races and :cheerleader: you on from my desk chair. (Yes, my husband thought I was crazy... :afraid:)
Fort, after reading the advice in this thread, I took your suggestion and have been dividing my training into HIT days and HV days. Once in awhile (like today), I will do my sprint training, then decide to swim a timed 1,000 (or whatever) at the end, before my cooldown. My priority is still sprint, but I am finding I am enjoying those long hard swims more and more. And, I am enjoying the challenge of 400 IM and 200 fly, as I try to increase my speed.
So, here is my question, Forumites:
How do I know if I am better suited to be a sprinter or a distance swimmer? (Or, for that matter, mid-D?)
I'll admit that Geek's post has stuck in my mind. :afraid:He really did bring up a good point when he suggested that perhaps I think I am a sprinter when I may be better at mid-D or distance. It was what I was thrown into as a high school swimmer, because I liked swimming breaststroke and the coach needed me in those events. But, I have never trained for any events other than sprints and 200 breaststroke.
I would love to have that blood analysis done where lactate clearance is tested. But, I don't know where that can be done, since I missed out on the opportunity at 2010 Spring Nationals.
When I look at where I rank in the events I have competed in, I rank from highest to lowest: 50 br, 100 br, 50 fr, 100 IM, 100 fr, 50 bk, 200 br, 50 fly. But, I have never competed in any other events. At Dixie Zone Championships, I will try 200 fly, 400 IM, and, possibly 800 free for the first time. (I haven't sent in my ap. yet; I am still deciding...) But, I don't know if results at that meet would be a fair comparison, since I haven't been training distance for that long and I will be competing in those events for the first time.
So, Forumites, what do you think? What would be your advice for determining whether I am best suited for sprints or distance?
Thanks!
:D
First of all, welcome back to all you Forumites who swam in Omaha. Congratulations on a great meet! It was fun watching the livestreaming of your races and :cheerleader: you on from my desk chair. (Yes, my husband thought I was crazy... :afraid:)
Fort, after reading the advice in this thread, I took your suggestion and have been dividing my training into HIT days and HV days. Once in awhile (like today), I will do my sprint training, then decide to swim a timed 1,000 (or whatever) at the end, before my cooldown. My priority is still sprint, but I am finding I am enjoying those long hard swims more and more. And, I am enjoying the challenge of 400 IM and 200 fly, as I try to increase my speed.
So, here is my question, Forumites:
How do I know if I am better suited to be a sprinter or a distance swimmer? (Or, for that matter, mid-D?)
I'll admit that Geek's post has stuck in my mind. :afraid:He really did bring up a good point when he suggested that perhaps I think I am a sprinter when I may be better at mid-D or distance. It was what I was thrown into as a high school swimmer, because I liked swimming breaststroke and the coach needed me in those events. But, I have never trained for any events other than sprints and 200 breaststroke.
I would love to have that blood analysis done where lactate clearance is tested. But, I don't know where that can be done, since I missed out on the opportunity at 2010 Spring Nationals.
When I look at where I rank in the events I have competed in, I rank from highest to lowest: 50 br, 100 br, 50 fr, 100 IM, 100 fr, 50 bk, 200 br, 50 fly. But, I have never competed in any other events. At Dixie Zone Championships, I will try 200 fly, 400 IM, and, possibly 800 free for the first time. (I haven't sent in my ap. yet; I am still deciding...) But, I don't know if results at that meet would be a fair comparison, since I haven't been training distance for that long and I will be competing in those events for the first time.
So, Forumites, what do you think? What would be your advice for determining whether I am best suited for sprints or distance?
Thanks!
:D
