One of the big questions I suspect a lot of us have is how to best split the 50s on the 100 as we get a bit older. Youngsters may be able to more or less all-out sprint the whole thing, but I find that if I go too fast upfront, I die so horribly on the second half, that it proves self-defeating. But if I go too slow at the outset, I can't make up the hole I've dug for myself.
I have a teammate named Ronald, and we both swam last April at Y Masters Nationals. In a sense, we each adopted opposite strategies, and in this one race, at least, it seemed that the "don't go out too fast" strategy prevailed.
If anyone is interested, please take a look at the following "analysis" of our respective races and let me know what your opinions are about how we might each go faster:
100 Freestyle analysis from Ft. Lauderdale
7 Jacobs, Ronald 38 South Hills-PA vs. 7 Thornton, James 49 South Hills-PA
(For some reason, I can't get the following to break out in a table format, but the numbers are for Ronald first then Jim then the Difference in Ronald & Jim's 50 splits in parentheses. The difference for each swimmer's own first and second 50s are in brackets.)
Ron Jim Difference between Ron and Jim
25.69 24.89 (-.80) 1st 50
26.38 27.57 (+1.19) 2nd 50
52.07 52.46 (+.39) total time
* difference between 1st & 2nd 50 splits
Possible conclusion: Jim went out too fast and could have done a better overall time by easing up slightly on the first half; the 2.68 second differential indicates some heavy duty dying went on in the second half
Possible alternative conclusion: Ronald went out too slow and could have broken 52 with more upfront effort; a .69 second differential indicates he essentially negative split this 100, given that there is no dive for the second 50
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Former Member
I was always under the impression that the 2/3 second rule was pretty right on in the 100. Ie..the 2nd 50 was never be more then 2/3 seconds slower then the first 50. The first is full out with just a very slight bit held back, the second 50 is full all out go for it and leave NOTHING IN THE POOL. NOTHING!
Conditioning should prevail with prior arm strength and LEG strength. The legs were always taught to be the key or main difference in the 50's/100's ---different then the 200's and on up. Let's face it. the legs have to be there in the 100 and they use a lot more of the stuff then it takes to hammer a 100. Hey, I am not a swim coach. But, this is how I was always taught and watched the greats do it.
At least, I thought that’s what my stop watch told me…
Tom
I was always under the impression that the 2/3 second rule was pretty right on in the 100. Ie..the 2nd 50 was never be more then 2/3 seconds slower then the first 50. The first is full out with just a very slight bit held back, the second 50 is full all out go for it and leave NOTHING IN THE POOL. NOTHING!
Conditioning should prevail with prior arm strength and LEG strength. The legs were always taught to be the key or main difference in the 50's/100's ---different then the 200's and on up. Let's face it. the legs have to be there in the 100 and they use a lot more of the stuff then it takes to hammer a 100. Hey, I am not a swim coach. But, this is how I was always taught and watched the greats do it.
At least, I thought that’s what my stop watch told me…
Tom
