I am a track and field sprinter (100m-400m) and looking for some cross training. I started swimming because we have a pool where I work and I was nursing back spasms and achilies tendonitis from running. I found out about local swim meets and thought it would be fun to try. I love to compete.
It was a blast. It was very similar to a track meet so I was comfortable in that regard, but nervous because I have never raced in a pool.
I only know freestyle. Did the 100m free in 70 seconds (three bad turns) and the 50m free in 30 seconds (one bad turn). I have no clue how to do the flip turns and it showed. I will definately need to practice that.
I found it hard to warm up properly and got cold waiting for my events. Will need to pack very warm clothes next time.
People that don't look very fast out of the water.... are very fast in the water.
People at swim meets couldn't be more friendly and helpful. I got alot of good advice.
Will practice the turns and hopefully get down to a 27 and a 60 for the next meet. If I can improve alot, I may focus on swim training and run secondary.
I will probably post again asking when to initiate the flip turn. I need to learn what to key on visually as I approach. This was my big problem. I had no spacial awareness and vision.
Thanks for the kind remarks, but I really did not see me times as being fast. In the 50, quite a few swimmers over 40 swam 26 and under and a 30 year old swam a 23.3.
In the 100, there was a 36 yr old who went under 50. Let's ignore that for a moment. There were alot of others over 40 who went under 60.
I would think that as a 41 yr old, a good performance would be under 25 in the 50 and under 55 in the 100. I was hoping to be around a 27 and a 60. I think 60% of my problem is from poor turning, 15% poor swim technique, and 25% conditioning.
Question on kicking.
I noticed that if I do kick sets with a board, my kick mechanics for maximum thrust are different from my kick mechanics when doing fast free intervals. I use more knee bend in the kickboard sets. My free kick is with less knee bend, and more hip flexor. Should I try to mimic my kickboard form in the free? Should the mechanics be the same?
Thanks for the kind remarks, but I really did not see me times as being fast. In the 50, quite a few swimmers over 40 swam 26 and under and a 30 year old swam a 23.3.
In the 100, there was a 36 yr old who went under 50. Let's ignore that for a moment. There were alot of others over 40 who went under 60.
I would think that as a 41 yr old, a good performance would be under 25 in the 50 and under 55 in the 100. I was hoping to be around a 27 and a 60. I think 60% of my problem is from poor turning, 15% poor swim technique, and 25% conditioning.
Question on kicking.
I noticed that if I do kick sets with a board, my kick mechanics for maximum thrust are different from my kick mechanics when doing fast free intervals. I use more knee bend in the kickboard sets. My free kick is with less knee bend, and more hip flexor. Should I try to mimic my kickboard form in the free? Should the mechanics be the same?
