100 Freestyle (SCY)

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 13:13:09 GMT

Originally posted by Flipper61 One day this week during a repeat set, my best time for one of the 100's was 1:08 with fins (short course yards). I am in the 40-44 age group female. I have been swimming for about 6 months (before that was high school many years ago). Is anyone else out there this slow or am I the only one of you that isn't a former high school elite swimmer. So many of you have fast times-I'm impressed! So much of this thread seems concerned if one is "good" enough or "fast" enough...and concern if your workout/coach is "good" enough or "fast" enough. My $.02 is that if you're moving and enjoying it, it's good enough...

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 15:44:56 GMT

Take as much rest as necessary to swim the rep faster. Then over weeks - reduce the time. But, I suggest you do some reading and/or video watching on swimming technique. Don't know what your library system is like, but here in Seattle it's pretty easy to get almost anything that exists. I'm 38 and have been swimming regularly for 6 months. I started a workout plan 4 months ago. I hadn't swum (or done any exercise) for 20 years prior to that. I too was on swim team in high school. As part of my workout I've been doing a set of 6x100's free on the 2:00 at a 1:15 pace - yards. . I think this is extremely good for someone in my situation. I don't think you're far behind me and we're nearly in the same boat. Keep it up, and do some reading / viewing of proper stroke technique. Oh, and by the way: Make up your own workouts. The pre-prepared workouts make allot of assumptions about your ability. Design a workout that you think you can do with a bit of effort. Over the course of a few days - fix it so it suits your ability better. Then, over weeks manipulate the times to work on the areas where you are weak. After 20 years of 'nothing' - endurance and technique is going to be a problem. So, that's pretty much all I work on, with a few sprints (2 in my case) toward the end of the workout. I'm up to 3000 yards, and am going to keep it here for a while as I tighten up some of my reps over the next few weeks.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:53:11 GMT

Lately I've been using the workouts posted on swim2000.com (Beginner version) to try to improve my swimming. Last night, one of the sets was 200s on 3:30 and 100s on 1:45. I couldn't do it. No matter what I tried, my 100s were coming out around 1:55 and my 200s at 3:40. Granted, I swim in a 25 meter pool and the workout is for yards, but still this seems pretty miserable. And before y'all ask - I swam competitively when I was a kid, got back into it about 4 1/2 years ago (I'm 29 and holding for another month), started getting serious about 6 months ago. On an average (pace) 25 meter length I take 15-16 strokes. Any suggestions? How much rest is necessary between sets of 100s (or 200s) if you're swimming at, say, 70%. Thanks! Kae

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:17:58 GMT

I got back in the water this past September also. I hadn't swam in over 9 years, but I certainly wouldn't use fins for the majority of the practice. I coach a team and I wouldn't suggest that they wear fins for that long either. Personally, I don't even like swimming with fins because of the way the water feels. I only use them for kicking and ocassional swimming. Your best bet is to just swim. Don't worry about keeping up!

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

mattson — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:20:42 GMT

Originally posted by EyeoreSAM Personally, I don't even like swimming with fins because of the way the water feels. Ah, but that is one reason to use them (on occasion, not regularly). You feel the water resistance more at faster speeds, so you can work on your streamlining.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:43:47 GMT

Originally posted by kernow What if the person is a beginner, and is unable to complete the set or practice without them? Should they not be on the team? An alternative would be to increase the rest interval or shorten the distance of the repeats (swim 75s instead of 100s). Most coaches recommend using training aids (like fins) for no more than 50% of your sets. On the other hand, if you're swimming for fitness and not planning to compete, it probably doesn't matter.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:13:15 GMT

OK- So it's wrong for a coach to encourage you to wear fins for an entire workout, minus warm-up? What if the person is a beginner, and is unable to complete the set or practice without them? Should they not be on the team? Just curious...:confused:

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 15:24:24 GMT

I still think that it's a good training time; see- now you know to cut down on your intervals in practice! Good luck with it...

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 15:06:21 GMT

To Geek and HOS- Here is what's up with timing with fins. At this time in the season and level of training. many of us on the team use fins during most of the practice (as recommended by the coach). I didn't set out to time myself with fins- I just noted what my best time was during a set of 4X (4 X 100) on 2 minutes. For me the 1:08 was my best time. Hope this answers your question. Nothing- is "up with timing with fins".

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

dorothyrde — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 12:44:13 GMT

I used fins a lot when I first started swimming 5 years ago, just to keep up. That, or I cut the set short, because I could not keep up. I think you would probably have a very decent 100 free team, without the fins. Try timing it in practice, or go to a meet and see where you are at. My bet, under 1:15.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 11:52:12 GMT

I have been swimming since September 2004. Before that, I swam in high school many years ago.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

aquageek — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:26:21 GMT

Sounds fishy to me, doing a set with fins. Why not strap an outboard to your back and get your time? What is accomplished by doing this much swimming with fins? Is it the sense of speed that you are looking for? I've swam with a bunch of coaches, most don't use fins. The ones that do don't subject us to 1600 straight yards of kick ruining fin sets.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

dorothyrde — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:12:10 GMT

I used fins much more when I first started than I do now. As you get back into it, I think it is natural to use them less and less. I remember being frustrated because I could not swim over a 50 so I started using them to be able to extend the length I could swim. I competed in my first 1000 last weekend, so I have left the fins behind and can swim over a 50!

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 08:48:06 GMT

Hey Flipper, How long have you been swimming?

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

ande — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 08:43:38 GMT

first the whole point of swimming is to do the best you can for where you are, It's great to be the best or top ten but only a handful of people can do that. each person has their own reasons and receives benefits from swimming i see no problem with timing yourself in a 100 kick with fins it's another way to mix things up Sure, you don't get to wear fins in a meet Ande

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 07:54:37 GMT

Geek-maybe you would benefit from a long relaxing swim to unwind.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 07:30:38 GMT

I agree with GEEK: what's up with timing yourslef with flippers?You do not compete in them so why even bother clocking yourself that way?So I actually have no clue how that time of yours would translate into normal swimming, if it is still close to 1:08(I think it would be slower though), it is not bad time for a lady your age at all...

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 06:18:09 GMT

:D All 40-44 year old men who swim slower than 1:07 at meets are miserable. It's a terrible time. - tongue firmly planted in cheek. ;)

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

aquageek — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 03:27:11 GMT

Originally posted by Flipper61 Geek-maybe you would benefit from a long relaxing swim to unwind. I did that already today, without fins. In all seriousness, that's way too much practice with fins.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 17:40:47 GMT

No, but if you could walk on water...

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 17:03:17 GMT

I'm always somewhat hesitant to put anything like this on the threads but here goes. REMEMBER, NO ONE SWAM THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 17:02:06 GMT

It seems to me that fins might slow you down on your flip turns.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 16:55:15 GMT

I'm not sure the fins make you that much faster. I bet if you took them off you'd loose 5 to 10 seconds, putting your time at about 1:15 during a workout. Then, I don't know if this is true from you, but it's true for me: I go 10% faster in meets than I do during my fastest workout time. That would put you right back to your 'fins' time - 1:08. 1:08 is competitive. It's not breaking any records, but what do you want in six months? :) I think 1:08 is awesome for someone who's only been swimming for six months.

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 16:26:28 GMT

Hey- that's not so bad! Just keep swimming- you'll get there!

RE: 100 Freestyle (SCY)

Former Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 16:02:36 GMT

Originally posted by Flipper61 One day this week during a repeat set, my best time for one of the 100's was 1:08 with fins (short course yards). I am in the 40-44 age group female. I have been swimming for about 6 months (before that was high school many years ago). Is anyone else out there this slow or am I the only one of you that isn't a former high school elite swimmer. So many of you have fast times-I'm impressed! I'm terribly slow!! My time, at least last time I checked, was I think at 1:28 (without fins, SCY)....hopefully it has dropped though. Just keep doing what you are doing and slowly (very slowly it seems) but surely your times will come down. Power to the slow people!!! ~Kyra