First I just would like to thank everybody that responds to the few posts I have put out. They usually are seeking advice as this one is. Can anyone tell me a good way to increase my speed in back and free. I returned to swimming after a 17 year layoff since high school. I've been working out since the beginning of December and have been to 5 meets. My 100 free is 56.5, 50 free 25.8, 100 back 1.07 and 200 free 2.05. I can't seem to get that initial burst in the first 50 yds of the event. In high school I did 22's in the 50 and 49's in the 100 but now am struggling to get 25's. Is it due to age ( I hope not I'm 36)? I do on the average 3000 yds 4 or 5 times a week in varied forms, intervals, distance, IM etc. Is there something specific I should do? I don't lift weights but could if that might help. Again, thanks for all the good advice>
If you are a distance swimmer, your taper should be a bit different. You rely on your aerobic system. 100 and 50 swimmers rely mostly on their anaerobic system. Sprinters can taper and not worry about key enzymes decreasing in concentration. In fact, during the taper where intensity is increased, they may increase in concentration. As a distance swimmer, a month without doing aerobic work may decrease aerobic enzyme concentration as well as mitochondria density. Keep doing aerobic work for the first 2 weeks of your taper. Just do less. Then during the last two weeks, taper off like a mad man.
hey sefswim,
I see that we have a couple of things in common, the family thing and the fact that we are swimming in the keystone games. Well, looking at your times, you'll rock where I will sink like a rock.
Well, good luck in your training for the games. Hope to hear from you in Wilkes-Barre. hopefully, your not in my age group.:D
btw, where the heck is Drums, PA:confused:
Great- Wow I am impressed that you did 6 of them- I usually only do 5 of them. I think you will notice that your times in these sets will only get faster as you continue to do it because your hands are learning to swim fast again. Try not to puke but if you are feeling that way, you are swimming the set the way you are supposed to. Make sure you not only swim as hard as you can (90-95%), but you also MAINTAIN close to the same time for all 5 or 6 of them. Good luck and you should expect your 50s-500s to get faster.
Well sef, I live about twenty minutes north of Wellsboro in Tioga County, so I am still in Delaware Valley LMSC. Any meet that I want to swim in I always have to travel to. i swam in Feb. at a meet in Canandaigua,NY. It's about a two hour trip. i was going to swim at your meet in Wilkes-Barre at the Y but they reschedualed it around the time that my family is going to the Outer Banks:D. hopefully by the time the Keystone Games gets around, I might be ready to swim that 100 IM. If I get down to around 1:05.00, I'll be doin' good ;) . Won't be bad for a fat man trying to get thiner.
Originally posted by Tom Bubel
There is a TON of recovery time in these sets so you should feel like you are going as hard as you would be in a real race in these sets. If you do these right, you will probably feel like you are going to puke when you are done (just keep it in)Tom B.
THANK-YOU! I feel better now. I must be tapering right! I was feeling like I was going to toss my cookies yesterday when we did a set of 6x100's with lots of rest. We timed ourselves from the blocks on #3 and #6. I was exhausted afterwards! Hopefully it will help my speed for the 50 and 100's!
Drums is about 20 miles south of wilkes barre. Are there meets out in North Central Pa? What LMSC is that? Thanks for the compliment on times. I just did the zones and after seeing some of the times in and out of my age group I have to admit it was humbling. ( motivating too). I'm sure your times are good too. How often do you swim? Remember, as long as it makes you happy and you enjoy it, they're good times>
