500 yard free prep

I asked this same question in the old masters forum, where the answers are archived somewhere. I tried to find it but couldn't--if you have some time, you might try rummaging through. I remember someone offering the advice that during the race, you should divide it into fourths--start off the first 125 smooth; pick up the second; start kicking with more power during the third; then give it your all during the final 5 lengths. I have swum the 500 twice this season, the first time "loafing" the first 12 lengths and trying to really go hard the last 8; the second time, trying to pick it up more from the get go. Both races, I finished within less than .2 of a second--5:26.07 and 5:26.24. So much for strategy. I think the main thing is to try to get in as good of distance swimming shape as you can, and there may not be enough time left to make a huge difference between now and early May. Try really working on streamlining your turns, pin your biceps to your ears on the push offs and glide for a two-count (no Superman arm spread), really keep your head down to flatten out your body position. And if you don't have a body suit yet, consider springing $70 or so for an Aquablade or twice this for a kneeskin Fastskin. Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

I asked this same question in the old masters forum, where the answers are archived somewhere. I tried to find it but couldn't--if you have some time, you might try rummaging through. I remember someone offering the advice that during the race, you should divide it into fourths--start off the first 125 smooth; pick up the second; start kicking with more power during the third; then give it your all during the final 5 lengths. I have swum the 500 twice this season, the first time "loafing" the first 12 lengths and trying to really go hard the last 8; the second time, trying to pick it up more from the get go. Both races, I finished within less than .2 of a second--5:26.07 and 5:26.24. So much for strategy. I think the main thing is to try to get in as good of distance swimming shape as you can, and there may not be enough time left to make a huge difference between now and early May. Try really working on streamlining your turns, pin your biceps to your ears on the push offs and glide for a two-count (no Superman arm spread), really keep your head down to flatten out your body position. And if you don't have a body suit yet, consider springing $70 or so for an Aquablade or twice this for a kneeskin Fastskin. Good luck! Let me know how it goes.