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?
Parents
Former Member
Sandu,
If I can, I'd like to expand on one of Rob's points. Please tell me again why you, a novice swimmer, cannot find time for regular swim coaching when you do have time to run 12 miles a day? Let's talk a bit about the pentathlon. It's a multi-discipline event. We have similar events in swimming; they're called individual medleys, where a swimmer does all four competitive strokes. The winner is usually not the person who holds the world record in one stroke. The winner is usually the person who is excellent to outstanding in each of the four strokes. The key for getting better is NOT squeezing the last fraction of a second out of your best stroke, it is making leaps and bounds improvements in your weakest stroke.
Let's cut to your event. You already can run your goal time. Missing a few long runs probably will not change that. Consider spending some of that time on quality coaching to learn the fundamentals of your weaker event. Learning good, solid mechanics for the starts and turns can lop-off a second or to--for each length of the pool. It would probably take only a few sessions with a coach who really knows her craft, and best of all, it need not be physically taxing. If you need to recover from a long run, just schedule a swimming technique session.
At any rate, good luck with your event. Please let us know how you do. Feel free to blow doors on the swim and make all of us self-proclaimed experts look like fools. I would proudly wear egg on my face in your behalf.
Matt
Reply
Former Member
Sandu,
If I can, I'd like to expand on one of Rob's points. Please tell me again why you, a novice swimmer, cannot find time for regular swim coaching when you do have time to run 12 miles a day? Let's talk a bit about the pentathlon. It's a multi-discipline event. We have similar events in swimming; they're called individual medleys, where a swimmer does all four competitive strokes. The winner is usually not the person who holds the world record in one stroke. The winner is usually the person who is excellent to outstanding in each of the four strokes. The key for getting better is NOT squeezing the last fraction of a second out of your best stroke, it is making leaps and bounds improvements in your weakest stroke.
Let's cut to your event. You already can run your goal time. Missing a few long runs probably will not change that. Consider spending some of that time on quality coaching to learn the fundamentals of your weaker event. Learning good, solid mechanics for the starts and turns can lop-off a second or to--for each length of the pool. It would probably take only a few sessions with a coach who really knows her craft, and best of all, it need not be physically taxing. If you need to recover from a long run, just schedule a swimming technique session.
At any rate, good luck with your event. Please let us know how you do. Feel free to blow doors on the swim and make all of us self-proclaimed experts look like fools. I would proudly wear egg on my face in your behalf.
Matt
