I am notorious in my own book for producing workout times that are sometimes -not always, but frequently- faster than my competition times, no matter the tapering for competition.
Today was such an example.
One and a half months ago, I switched to a new Masters program, and today without tapering it was asked of us to do a T30 in a 50 meters pool, meaning swimming the maximum distance one can cover during 30 minutes.
I went a faster split at 800 meters than my tapered 800 meters swam in competition in Cleveland two months ago.
Today at the 800 meters mark I split 11:31.
In Cleveland it was 11:45.xx.
My distance covered today was 2,040 meter in 30 minutes, for an average of 1:28.23 per 100 meters.
In Cleveland, my 11:45.xx over the smaller 800 meters, is an average of 1:28.13, barely faster than the one during today's T30.
The fastest swimmer in the workout today, was in my lane, swimming 2,450 meters, for an average of 1:13.06 per 100 meters.
Last December, in the Masters program where I was then, in a 50 meter pool again, I swam 16 x 100 meters leaving every 1:25, so I started hoping to succeed a sub 11:00 in 800 meters in August 2002 in Cleveland.
I guess doing lots of quality swims so that the body remembers at least one of them during competition, leading a peace of mind life allowing for these swims, and tapering well -including carying a feel good sentiment into competition-, they are part of a fragile balance to achieve, and to maintain:
it is 'getting into the zone'.
Parents
Former Member
Phil,
The advantages of drafting that you pointed out to Ion also apply to the faster swimmer who is approaching and passing a slower swimmer. The only true test would be swimming alone in a lane. I can regularly beat my meet distance times in practice quite easily by swimming with people that I can pass once or twice during a distance set. Example: I swam a 5:40 500free in a meet and two weeks later in practice swam 2 back to back sub 5:30 500's just using the draft. So, don't take too much stock in times you achieve when using the draft unless the swimmers behind you are right on your tail and are never in danger of being passed.
Bill White
Phil,
The advantages of drafting that you pointed out to Ion also apply to the faster swimmer who is approaching and passing a slower swimmer. The only true test would be swimming alone in a lane. I can regularly beat my meet distance times in practice quite easily by swimming with people that I can pass once or twice during a distance set. Example: I swam a 5:40 500free in a meet and two weeks later in practice swam 2 back to back sub 5:30 500's just using the draft. So, don't take too much stock in times you achieve when using the draft unless the swimmers behind you are right on your tail and are never in danger of being passed.
Bill White
