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
One difference between the 1st & 2nd 50's is that the 1st is from a dive, the second is from a push - that should produce a difference if you hold a steady pace.
Another difference is more individual. aptitude toward sprinting, middle distance or endurance (and overall conditioning) impacts how long someone can hold a steady pace. Pure sprinters (like 50 specialists) or those like me with poor conditioning will slow down sooner and have larger split differences.
Back in the day, I tried to get my split differences between 1.5 to 2 seconds. A difference of 2.5-3.5 showed I was tired or out of shape. Now I'm happy with anything under 3.5 - but hope to improve that.
When meets get closer, practicing at race pace helps you pinpoint how quick to go out so you can hang on and finish with your best time. Depending on your conditioning, sprinting aptitude and quickness of starts and turns will dictate how fast you can go out and still finish fast. The only way to know is to try out different paces for the first 50 and see what you can put into the second.
One difference between the 1st & 2nd 50's is that the 1st is from a dive, the second is from a push - that should produce a difference if you hold a steady pace.
Another difference is more individual. aptitude toward sprinting, middle distance or endurance (and overall conditioning) impacts how long someone can hold a steady pace. Pure sprinters (like 50 specialists) or those like me with poor conditioning will slow down sooner and have larger split differences.
Back in the day, I tried to get my split differences between 1.5 to 2 seconds. A difference of 2.5-3.5 showed I was tired or out of shape. Now I'm happy with anything under 3.5 - but hope to improve that.
When meets get closer, practicing at race pace helps you pinpoint how quick to go out so you can hang on and finish with your best time. Depending on your conditioning, sprinting aptitude and quickness of starts and turns will dictate how fast you can go out and still finish fast. The only way to know is to try out different paces for the first 50 and see what you can put into the second.
