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:
Looking at your BR I think your stroke is very suited to the 200 BR.I suspect the reason your 50 is so much better has been that it is hard for you to train distance BR with intensity given your physical limitations.Since those same limitations are evidently less relevant for the other strokes,your IM and fly training will almost certainly help your 200 BR.
I say swim the stuff that seems fun to you and play around with different events.
You should probably do the "Check off Challenge" to do each event in one year (some can be done in workout if you want.) You get a nice T Shirt just to sign up.
I have thought a lot about this and came to the same conclusion. How is it that I have the strength and endurance to swim 2,000 yards of fly (even if it is geezer fly), but can't swim beyond 200 yards of breaststroke without losing strength in my arms? Fortunately, with your medical knowledge you get why I can't. Breaststroke is the only stroke where the arms stay in front of the shoulders throughout the stroke (except for the turn). The other three strokes allow the thoracic outlet to open up when the arms go down and/or behind the shoulders. That makes all the difference in the world; especially since my right side was never operated on and I still have my first rib to shut off blood flow, as well as the nerves.
I can repeat 25's and 50's of breaststroke with no problem, as long as I have a rest interval to allow my arms to hang down. And, training your breaststroke sprint workout is no problem, because the sprint is followed by easy free. But, my arms shut down on 200 to the point where I lose valuable time. To swim strong on the back half of a 200, I have to really take it easy on the front half. But, my total time suffers. Contrast that with the distance free races I have been practicing and I have negative split every time. Even my 2,000 fly splits and stroke count stayed consistent for a lot of it.
The 200 breaststroke is not fun to me for those reasons. I have been trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. And, it feels like :frustrated:
The Check Off Challenge sounds perfect for me- thanks! And, thanks for your input, King Frog. You know how much I respect your opinions, too! :applaud:
Looking at your BR I think your stroke is very suited to the 200 BR.I suspect the reason your 50 is so much better has been that it is hard for you to train distance BR with intensity given your physical limitations.Since those same limitations are evidently less relevant for the other strokes,your IM and fly training will almost certainly help your 200 BR.
I say swim the stuff that seems fun to you and play around with different events.
You should probably do the "Check off Challenge" to do each event in one year (some can be done in workout if you want.) You get a nice T Shirt just to sign up.
I have thought a lot about this and came to the same conclusion. How is it that I have the strength and endurance to swim 2,000 yards of fly (even if it is geezer fly), but can't swim beyond 200 yards of breaststroke without losing strength in my arms? Fortunately, with your medical knowledge you get why I can't. Breaststroke is the only stroke where the arms stay in front of the shoulders throughout the stroke (except for the turn). The other three strokes allow the thoracic outlet to open up when the arms go down and/or behind the shoulders. That makes all the difference in the world; especially since my right side was never operated on and I still have my first rib to shut off blood flow, as well as the nerves.
I can repeat 25's and 50's of breaststroke with no problem, as long as I have a rest interval to allow my arms to hang down. And, training your breaststroke sprint workout is no problem, because the sprint is followed by easy free. But, my arms shut down on 200 to the point where I lose valuable time. To swim strong on the back half of a 200, I have to really take it easy on the front half. But, my total time suffers. Contrast that with the distance free races I have been practicing and I have negative split every time. Even my 2,000 fly splits and stroke count stayed consistent for a lot of it.
The 200 breaststroke is not fun to me for those reasons. I have been trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. And, it feels like :frustrated:
The Check Off Challenge sounds perfect for me- thanks! And, thanks for your input, King Frog. You know how much I respect your opinions, too! :applaud:
