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
Tom and Ian and Val:
First of all, I think Tom's "2 second rule of thumb" is, in fact, pretty good guidance. Or at least a starting point for an optimal time differential for most of us.
The fact that world record holder Val has a much reduced differential, however, adds more reason than ever for me personally to want to experiment with going out slower myself on the first 50 of a 100.
Ian and I make for excellent comparisons because, though Ian is 61 and I am 50, we are biologically both 56 in my estimation--Ian because he is a youthful stud of a Canadian; me because I have been so regularly beaten down by life.
I invite my fellow "virtual 56-year-old" Ian to analyze his splits next to mine. This is from the Cleveland Nationals, i.e., a long course meet.
Jim's 50m: 27.58 Ian's 50: 27:87
Jim's 100m: 1:00.85 Ian's 100: 1:03.54
first 50 split: 28.59 Ian's 1st 50: 31.08
second 50 split: 32.26 Ian's 2nd 50: 32.46
dif 3.67--true death! dif 1.38--true death?
I would argue Ian should have gone out faster; and I should have eased up a bit on the 1st 50; and we both would have done better times. Do you think that if I very carefully argue my case, the Top 10 officials would make the necessary adjustments--and perhaps consider putting me into the 55-59 age group to boot?
Tom and Ian and Val:
First of all, I think Tom's "2 second rule of thumb" is, in fact, pretty good guidance. Or at least a starting point for an optimal time differential for most of us.
The fact that world record holder Val has a much reduced differential, however, adds more reason than ever for me personally to want to experiment with going out slower myself on the first 50 of a 100.
Ian and I make for excellent comparisons because, though Ian is 61 and I am 50, we are biologically both 56 in my estimation--Ian because he is a youthful stud of a Canadian; me because I have been so regularly beaten down by life.
I invite my fellow "virtual 56-year-old" Ian to analyze his splits next to mine. This is from the Cleveland Nationals, i.e., a long course meet.
Jim's 50m: 27.58 Ian's 50: 27:87
Jim's 100m: 1:00.85 Ian's 100: 1:03.54
first 50 split: 28.59 Ian's 1st 50: 31.08
second 50 split: 32.26 Ian's 2nd 50: 32.46
dif 3.67--true death! dif 1.38--true death?
I would argue Ian should have gone out faster; and I should have eased up a bit on the 1st 50; and we both would have done better times. Do you think that if I very carefully argue my case, the Top 10 officials would make the necessary adjustments--and perhaps consider putting me into the 55-59 age group to boot?
