I took my 1500 m time in a 50 m pool 12 weeks before, and it was 31'42". Afterwards the 50 m pool I use closed for annual maintenance.
In these 12 weeks, I joined a squad and did 2 sessions per week, swam open water with a group every weekend, and also swam intervals on my own in a 25 m pool, with about 12 - 15 km total per week.
The 50 m pool I use reopened this week, so the first thing I did while returning was to take my time again, but the result was 31'13" - only 29 seconds improvement over 12 weeks! In contrast, I improved for 45 seconds in the preceding 6 weeks, from 32'27" to 31'42", and those 6 weeks were the weeks I newly joined the squad and I normally did only 1 session per week, and no intervals on my own.
I was targeting 30' and attempted to swim at an aerobic intensity which I thought I could sustain for 30 lengths, but I could only sustain my form for around 400 m. Afterwards, I felt my teres major were so tight that I couldn't perform my stroke well, my arms simply failed to execute my desired stroke even I reduced my stroke rate a bit, and the stiffness even persisted in the cool down after completing the set, and for another few hours.
According to my wearable, I was taking 31 - 32 cycles at the beginning, and 34 - 35 cycles at the end per 50 m length, while my stroke rate remained mostly the same. I was swimming at around 59" / 50 m in the 2nd to 4th lengths, then deteriorated to around 62" / 50 m in the middle, and about 65" / 50 m by the end.
The cumulative time as recorded by my wearable was follows:
250 m: 4'52"
500 m: 9'59"
750 m: 15'19"
1000 m: 20'31"
1250 m: 25'56"
1500 m: 31'14"
I'm very disappointed that, even after a few months of intense training, I still haven't reached 30' / 1500 m in long course yet. I'm taking a very expensive 1-1 professional analysis tomorrow, and hope that afterwards I can know all my technique problems and target them in the coming month in my own training, and get a jump in my speed.
Do you know what the definition of "insanity" is? if not, look it up.
It is good that you are seeking a professional analysis. The problem will be if you do not believe them.
If there is anything you have gleaned from this forum it should be that good technique trumps strength, training, and youth. A swimmer with poor technique, and poor body position will be crushed by any 85 yr old with good technique and body position. Poor technique and body position in swimming is like trying to run on ice. It cannot be done well or fast.
Yet, swimmers new to the sport somehow think the laws of physics do not apply to them.
34-35 strokes per length at the speed you are going is about 34-35 strokes per minute or less. This is a slow tempo which, hazarding a guess, means you are doing an exaggerated catch-up stroke. That coupled, with your comments about a very wide kick, suggests over-rotation.
BTW - the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." I must be insane....
Still waiting for the video....
Windrath
Do you know what the definition of "insanity" is? if not, look it up.
It is good that you are seeking a professional analysis. The problem will be if you do not believe them.
If there is anything you have gleaned from this forum it should be that good technique trumps strength, training, and youth. A swimmer with poor technique, and poor body position will be crushed by any 85 yr old with good technique and body position. Poor technique and body position in swimming is like trying to run on ice. It cannot be done well or fast.
Yet, swimmers new to the sport somehow think the laws of physics do not apply to them.
34-35 strokes per length at the speed you are going is about 34-35 strokes per minute or less. This is a slow tempo which, hazarding a guess, means you are doing an exaggerated catch-up stroke. That coupled, with your comments about a very wide kick, suggests over-rotation.
BTW - the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." I must be insane....
Still waiting for the video....
Windrath
