mine are very slow i think..32 mins fastest so far i think or there abouts,would like to hear your methods of better times/or worse!!!!i would really like to improve this year..
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Former Member
Mark,
22-25 is a little high. I'm thinking I can sustain 18, maybe better since I have not worked-out in a SCM pool for some time. I have also found that I can go much lower when I do 25's focused only on stroke length, but that is not a realistic measure for racing, or longer sets. In other words, compare drill 25's to drill 25's, and racing stroke counts to racing stroke counts. The good news is that you appear to have a good opportunity to get faster with improved stroke mechanics.
I should also mention that Emmett Hines has something he calls the virtual coach. I am a little vague as to its details, but my general understanding is that you video tape yourself swimming, then send it to him for critique. That may be useful since you live some distance away from the kind of coaching you'd like. You can try his team's site www.H2Oustonswims.org to see if they have any more details.
Sparx, yes when I count strokes, I seem to involuntarily lengthen my stroke, even when I am not actively trying to do this. Since I often find myself trading off stroke length with oxygen debt, I pick and chose when I do count strokes during a hard set. Better to complete the set, that go out great and boink half-way through. And, if I really want to focus on mechanics and stroke length, I will intentionally swim in a slower lane to avoid boinking. Matt's homily of the day: avoid interval envy. Make sure your interval is matched to your ability and the objective for your workout. You are not a slave to the interval; it should be vice-versa.
Matt
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Former Member
Mark,
22-25 is a little high. I'm thinking I can sustain 18, maybe better since I have not worked-out in a SCM pool for some time. I have also found that I can go much lower when I do 25's focused only on stroke length, but that is not a realistic measure for racing, or longer sets. In other words, compare drill 25's to drill 25's, and racing stroke counts to racing stroke counts. The good news is that you appear to have a good opportunity to get faster with improved stroke mechanics.
I should also mention that Emmett Hines has something he calls the virtual coach. I am a little vague as to its details, but my general understanding is that you video tape yourself swimming, then send it to him for critique. That may be useful since you live some distance away from the kind of coaching you'd like. You can try his team's site www.H2Oustonswims.org to see if they have any more details.
Sparx, yes when I count strokes, I seem to involuntarily lengthen my stroke, even when I am not actively trying to do this. Since I often find myself trading off stroke length with oxygen debt, I pick and chose when I do count strokes during a hard set. Better to complete the set, that go out great and boink half-way through. And, if I really want to focus on mechanics and stroke length, I will intentionally swim in a slower lane to avoid boinking. Matt's homily of the day: avoid interval envy. Make sure your interval is matched to your ability and the objective for your workout. You are not a slave to the interval; it should be vice-versa.
Matt
