Trying to set one solid goal for next year. After a mediocre season, I've decided to focus on one event only for next year. I want to see if I can break 5 minutes for a 500 free.
Back in my college days (almost 30 years ago), my best was a 4:47, and I would routinely swim just under 5 in most dual meets. Since I started Masters swimming 4 years ago, my best has been a 5:10. Not bad, but I think I can do better.
Now here's the question for all the middle-distance studs out there: what are some good workouts/drills that you can do to A) increase raw speed, and B) increase endurance. As I mentioned in a different thread, I have been dealing with a mild anemia issue, which I'm pretty sure has been resolved.
Rich is correct. Altitude adjustments may be used for qualifying times and/or seeding, but NEVER for performances, top ten, or records. Performances are what they are!
Thanks for pointing that out, Glenn. I thought it might have been a world record, but I didn't check before posting so I didn't want to say it was without knowing for sure. Huge congratulations to Dan!
You don't think you still have a shot at that record? You pretty consistently go a sub-5 minute 400. Maybe you could go out a little slower and even split it? I think you might still be able to do it! Dan was out in 5 minutes even at the 400.
Also, David Radcliff, who was kind enough to house me and feed me the night before the meet (thanks Dave and Nancy!), dropped a little over 7 seconds from his world record time for men 80-84 with an 11:35.71. Amazing!
Thanks so much Elaine! I was thrilled with the swim, all things considered. Several people who knew what had happened to me in July approached me and said that they were shocked to see me at the meet and certainly didn't expect me to be able to swim like I was able to. It really was a pretty fast recovery. I even surprised myself!
Great swim Jonathan! You should be very happy with that. I'm hoping to do the 1500 in a few weeks in Bend (December 6th). At 4000 feet of elevation, I don't have high hopes for a fast swim there, but I would like to be somewhere around 19:10 or so. That should be good enough to make the top 10.
That 4000 foot elevation probably won't affect you too much. My wife and I did the Pacific Crest Long course tri there back in 2010, and we both had really good swim times (run-not so much!). Only effect I noticed was an elevated heart rate.
That 4000 foot elevation probably won't affect you too much. My wife and I did the Pacific Crest Long course tri there back in 2010, and we both had really good swim times (run-not so much!). Only effect I noticed was an elevated heart rate.
Colorado Swimming has an altitude converter: www.csi.org/coursealti.aspx
An 19:00 swim at Bend's altitude converts to a 18:49 at sea level.
That 4000 foot elevation probably won't affect you too much. My wife and I did the Pacific Crest Long course tri there back in 2010, and we both had really good swim times (run-not so much!). Only effect I noticed was an elevated heart rate.
Yeah, I normally don't have any trouble swimming at elevation either as long as I don't have to do flip turns! They kill me. I've done the Pacific Crest Triathlon Olympic distance triathlon each of the last two years and had great swims there both in 2013 and 2014 (1st out of the water). I also had a really good bike ride this year (13th overall). And I've done Donner Lake a couple of times and had no trouble with the elevation.
But when it comes to having to hold my breath for a couple of seconds every 17 seconds or so, it really gets to me after a while. The most pain I've been in while competing since I've started swimming was in 2013 when I did the 1500 in Bend at the Oregon Association Meet. I went a 19:13 and I nearly passed out from the pain! I used to end up gasping for air after every turn, but I've gotten better at controlling my breath into and out of turns recently, so hopefully my time will reflect that.
Colorado Swimming has an altitude converter: www.csi.org/coursealti.aspx
An 19:00 swim at Bend's altitude converts to a 18:49 at sea level.
Thanks for that handy, dandy tool, Kirk!
Rich is correct. Altitude adjustments may be used for qualifying times and/or seeding, but NEVER for performances, top ten, or records. Performances are what they are!
Sure, that makes sense Bob!
