Looking for some new ideas for my upcoming mile swim on Nov 22 for time. I have put in the yardage. Form is solid. I a middle distance guy who swims better mid to later in a practice. Not a sprinter nor distance guy
What should I be thinking about during the swim?
Rob's right about turns. Get as much distance as you can. If you don't want to kick much off the walls that's fine, but be sure to get a good pushoff and streamline. The less actual swimming the better!
This is exactly what I do (well, my streamlines could be better), but I don't really kick any off the walls, saving the energy for the swim portion. I consider my turns to be fast though, getting into and out of the wall fast, and past the flags as well.
I love that idea and am totally "borrowing" it for a HVT broken mile set.
You haven't seen that before???
It's fun to do with the 10,8,6,4,2 lengths fly, with free on the 11,9,7,5,3,1 lengths. :)
Rob's right about turns. Get as much distance as you can. If you don't want to kick much off the walls that's fine, but be sure to get a good pushoff and streamline. The less actual swimming the better!
I usually think about how bad of an idea all the beer was the night before.
And this...
And turns – focus on clean efficient turns; work it off each wall with a tight streamline, then smoothly transition into your stroke.
What should I be thinking about during the swim?
I've had my best distance swims when I wasn't thinking at all. This assumes, of course, that you have a counter.
You haven't seen that before???
It's fun to do with the 10,8,6,4,2 lengths fly, with free on the 11,9,7,5,3,1 lengths. :)
I attempted a Davis Mile of butterfly recently, but I stopped after the 225. It's a serious test of will. One day I will do it.
One of my first masters coaches gave our team a little talk on sports psychology.
He said that when you are swimming, periodically tell yourself, "I feel good! I feel strong!"
I immediately switched to this from my regular mental chatter, which was, "I feel weak, I feel sick."
I must say, it helps a little, even when you know you are lying to yourself!
I feel good, I feel strong indeed!
Another thing you might consider: Listen to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture a couple times before the swim, and when you need a burst of energy, mentally replay it in your head (especially the canons at the end)!
Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Finale) - YouTube
Penultimate thought: a 1650 is also 10 x 150s. This isn't a bad way to count!
Final summing up: Feel good, feel strong (even if you don't.) Imagine a crescendo of military canons. Count by 150s.
And try your best to pace intelligently so that you don't become, well, canon fodder.
I attempted a Davis Mile of butterfly recently, but I stopped after the 225. It's a serious test of will. One day I will do it.
TG: I just posted a comment recommending, in part, playing the 1812 Overture in your head. (A reviewer on the YouTube link I posted said, "Ahh my favorite instrument: Field artillery.")
Anyhow, I read your post right after posting mine, and I was convinced you had written about your attempt to swim a Miles Davis butterfly mile.
I think it would throw off any hope I might have for sustaining a sane pace.
Miles Davis: Walkin' - YouTube
Penultimate thought: a 1650 is also 10 x 150s.
What a slacker. Do you always skip yardage like this? This really throws your GTD mileage total into doubt. :D
