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
I took my test today and I swam 200 LCM in 2.37. With the 2 sec altitude conversion, I was given 2.35.
That's about what I thought I may be capable of doing and I'm sort of pleased with the result. It was good enough for a little more than 900 points. I ran 8.28 for 3000m which gave me about 1450 points. I just missed the 2400 point qualifier, but coaches were pleased so there is a good chance I may be accepted into the program based on today's performances. They said my swimming technical flaws can be fixed and I can swim much faster in a relatively short period of time. If I were to sumarize my own performance I'd say I swam like a little school girl. I thought I was a seasoned athlete, but today I got real nervous. I guess it's hard to be confident when you're inexperienced and unprepared.
At the start I lost my footing and I barely pushed off the starting block. Somehow I made it in the water head first. After a pathetic flip turn at the 50m, I reached the 100 in 1.14 which didn't feel too bad. Soon after that my form fell apart and I went from feeling all right to real bad and it was all downhill from there.
If I make the cut I will be training at the OTC for the next few years and I'm sure I will be getting professional help. Thanks a lot for your support and advice. I like this board, and I will post updates with the occasional "dumb" question. Thanks again!
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Former Member
I took my test today and I swam 200 LCM in 2.37. With the 2 sec altitude conversion, I was given 2.35.
That's about what I thought I may be capable of doing and I'm sort of pleased with the result. It was good enough for a little more than 900 points. I ran 8.28 for 3000m which gave me about 1450 points. I just missed the 2400 point qualifier, but coaches were pleased so there is a good chance I may be accepted into the program based on today's performances. They said my swimming technical flaws can be fixed and I can swim much faster in a relatively short period of time. If I were to sumarize my own performance I'd say I swam like a little school girl. I thought I was a seasoned athlete, but today I got real nervous. I guess it's hard to be confident when you're inexperienced and unprepared.
At the start I lost my footing and I barely pushed off the starting block. Somehow I made it in the water head first. After a pathetic flip turn at the 50m, I reached the 100 in 1.14 which didn't feel too bad. Soon after that my form fell apart and I went from feeling all right to real bad and it was all downhill from there.
If I make the cut I will be training at the OTC for the next few years and I'm sure I will be getting professional help. Thanks a lot for your support and advice. I like this board, and I will post updates with the occasional "dumb" question. Thanks again!
