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
Keep your speed up and your reps down. You want to rest your muscles. - That's pretty much the concept (as you already know).
If I were in your shoes my taper would be:
400 warm up. Very slowly, meditative concentrate on body position.
1 x 100 strong, but not fast.
4 x 50 nearly race speed with a good rest.
200 warm down. Slowly. Stretch out.
I wouldn't swim much more than that. If I did it would be very slowly, making sure not to strain. Tapering is not about working out. It's about reminding yourself how you must swim for the event. You're transitioning to a healing phase. It's a balance between keeping your speed up with good technique, and resting your muscles.
For simplicity reasons I tend to keep the same workout the entire week I'm tapering. Other people have more complex tapering routines.
I really have to fight the urge to swim more or faster when I'm tapering. I tend to feel really good and want to go more. It's only natural. Remind yourself to save it for the day.
Keep your speed up and your reps down. You want to rest your muscles. - That's pretty much the concept (as you already know).
If I were in your shoes my taper would be:
400 warm up. Very slowly, meditative concentrate on body position.
1 x 100 strong, but not fast.
4 x 50 nearly race speed with a good rest.
200 warm down. Slowly. Stretch out.
I wouldn't swim much more than that. If I did it would be very slowly, making sure not to strain. Tapering is not about working out. It's about reminding yourself how you must swim for the event. You're transitioning to a healing phase. It's a balance between keeping your speed up with good technique, and resting your muscles.
For simplicity reasons I tend to keep the same workout the entire week I'm tapering. Other people have more complex tapering routines.
I really have to fight the urge to swim more or faster when I'm tapering. I tend to feel really good and want to go more. It's only natural. Remind yourself to save it for the day.
