I am a former distance runner and I'm trying to get into Modern Pentathlon. I have to swim a 200m Freestyle. I've been training for 3 months and I feel I've improved a lot. At first I couldn't do more than two 50yards without stopping. Now I can do 10x100yards in 1.17-1.18 with 30sec recovery. I also do 10X50 in 34-35 and 5x200 in 2.45-2.48. All this in a turbulent, filthy 25 yard pool!
I'm training on my own and I don't really know what I'm doing. I have a test in ten days consisting of a 200m freestyle and a 3000m run and I have to have a total score of 2400 points.
While my run is strong enough to get me 1400 points (I represented the US at 2 world championships), I have to swim at least a 2.30 for my 200 m to get the remaining 1000 points. I don't know what to expect! I don't know how I should pace myself through the 1st 50, how I'm supposed to feel on the 2nd, 3rd 50 etc.
Based on my workouts, can anyone predict how fast I can swim a 200m in an Olympic size pool?
The best I've done is 2.43 on my last interval in a 200 yards
Is 2.30 for 200 meters a legitimate target considering I'd be using a starting block, fast skin half suit and I'd be swimming in a real competition pool?
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Former Member
Sandu, Rob does tend to sound a little harsh, but his point is 'right on'.
Your focus seems to be on "strength". This makes a great deal of sense coming from a runner. Technique isn't really all that important as a runner in relation to the speed and length of your legs.
However, with swimming - strength isn't that important.
What makes the fastest boat? Is it the most powerful engine that wins races? Answer: The shape of the hull, the and it's position in the water both have far greater impact on a boat's ability to win a race than the power of the engine.
Which is faster: A wooden raft with a 200hp engine or a ski boat with a 200hp engine?
You seem to be expressing that you'd like to modify the power which you're supplying to the water. You're hoping that power will increase your speed. Using that logic, how powerful of an engine would you need to put on the raft before it would be able to keep up with the ski boat? 300hp, 400hp? 2x400hp? All we know for sure is that it's going to take allot of power. In the end the raft never going to move nearly as well as the ski boat - it's the wrong shape.
This exact principle applies to the human body as well. You can try to increase your power, but it's far more effective and far easier to improve your shape.
So, you want to swim faster in a day, a week, a month or a year? My advise is the same: Learn how to be as streamlined as you can be (yes, you can improve in a day). Stroke power will come in time.
If you're getting stronger and you're not streamlined you're a raft with a powerful engine... and not going to go very fast no matter how fast or hard you move your arms and legs.
Sandu, Rob does tend to sound a little harsh, but his point is 'right on'.
Your focus seems to be on "strength". This makes a great deal of sense coming from a runner. Technique isn't really all that important as a runner in relation to the speed and length of your legs.
However, with swimming - strength isn't that important.
What makes the fastest boat? Is it the most powerful engine that wins races? Answer: The shape of the hull, the and it's position in the water both have far greater impact on a boat's ability to win a race than the power of the engine.
Which is faster: A wooden raft with a 200hp engine or a ski boat with a 200hp engine?
You seem to be expressing that you'd like to modify the power which you're supplying to the water. You're hoping that power will increase your speed. Using that logic, how powerful of an engine would you need to put on the raft before it would be able to keep up with the ski boat? 300hp, 400hp? 2x400hp? All we know for sure is that it's going to take allot of power. In the end the raft never going to move nearly as well as the ski boat - it's the wrong shape.
This exact principle applies to the human body as well. You can try to increase your power, but it's far more effective and far easier to improve your shape.
So, you want to swim faster in a day, a week, a month or a year? My advise is the same: Learn how to be as streamlined as you can be (yes, you can improve in a day). Stroke power will come in time.
If you're getting stronger and you're not streamlined you're a raft with a powerful engine... and not going to go very fast no matter how fast or hard you move your arms and legs.
