I started swimming in August, since them I learned all the strokes and pretty much realised that I am most proficient in sprint freestyle events(considering my times for all the strokes).Well, I have a few questions:should I just consentrate on 50 and 100 m. free events then without paying much attention to other strokes, well, maybe just a little bit for a change...Or should I still keep working at all the strokes, maybe versatility in all of them will contribute to my freestyle improvement.Another question is: if I concentrate on freestyle sprint, how should my work-outs look like then?Should they consist of shorter distnace training only with occasional all-out sprint work-outs(25s and so) and a lot of interval training or should I still throw in distnace in my work-outs?I want to compete and compete in a good shape!I can do a 29 sec. 50 free(SCM) and a 1:03-1:05 100 m. free(SCM) depending on how I feel...Is that good considered I was never coached, did all on my own(videos, books, forums) and only introduced myself to swimming August, 2004?I am 24 years old, pretty tall (6'1")and lean(165lb.), so can I expect to go under 55 sec.(that is my goal) for 100m within a year or not?And what can I expect long-term(4-5 years), considering that I will probably get a coached program and will still be insanely passionate about the sport as I am now(I train 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day.How hard does it get once you go under a minute for 100 SCM?I improved dramatically since August(my time was 1:50 when I just started), , but now I feel that every second is a battlle...
I would appreciate everyone's input...
Thanks!
I agree with Ande's last post about putting in the work and trusting that you're improving. Constantly testing yourself is a recipe for burn out. However, that being said, a cetain portion of your training must be sprint specific. Not every day, but maybe two or three days a week. That includes pure speed work (breakouts at half a length) and lactate tolerance to get you through last last length of the 100.
I also agree with Ande that your size works very well for swim sprinting and that you will really surprise yourself in an actual race.
I have to disagree with Marc that it is as easy to improve from a 1:20 to a 1:18 as it is to improve from a minute to a :58. As you go faster the resistance of the water increases exponentially as does the energy requirements. The faster you go, the more critical your technique in order to over come this fact. You cannot only rely on training harder. Using my self as an example, I've been swimming masters for 30 years and generally train very hard. The only way I feel I can maintain or improve my speed at this point is to improve my technique. For example, I know I am very inconsistant in my starting technique, so between last Nov. and Nationals in May I will do a minimum of 300 starts off the blocks. Only recently have I started to nail the majority of my starts. By the way, this commitment is only about 10 starts a week.
Find a coach to help you refine your technique at racing speed and I predict you will improve very rapidly.
Good luck!
I agree with Ande's last post about putting in the work and trusting that you're improving. Constantly testing yourself is a recipe for burn out. However, that being said, a cetain portion of your training must be sprint specific. Not every day, but maybe two or three days a week. That includes pure speed work (breakouts at half a length) and lactate tolerance to get you through last last length of the 100.
I also agree with Ande that your size works very well for swim sprinting and that you will really surprise yourself in an actual race.
I have to disagree with Marc that it is as easy to improve from a 1:20 to a 1:18 as it is to improve from a minute to a :58. As you go faster the resistance of the water increases exponentially as does the energy requirements. The faster you go, the more critical your technique in order to over come this fact. You cannot only rely on training harder. Using my self as an example, I've been swimming masters for 30 years and generally train very hard. The only way I feel I can maintain or improve my speed at this point is to improve my technique. For example, I know I am very inconsistant in my starting technique, so between last Nov. and Nationals in May I will do a minimum of 300 starts off the blocks. Only recently have I started to nail the majority of my starts. By the way, this commitment is only about 10 starts a week.
Find a coach to help you refine your technique at racing speed and I predict you will improve very rapidly.
Good luck!
