One of those swims in a meet whereby you not only exceeded your swim time goal, but it felt better the longer you swam.
I remember one out of 40 years of swimming. Mine was in 1995 at Mt. Hood LC Nationals, the 800 m free. I had overtrained, tapered properly, and felt like a stick of dynamite going off the blocks. Not only did I negative split all the 200s, but I felt like I could have swam forever. I actually didn't want the race to come to an end.
I was spent at the finish, took a minute or two longer than others to get out of the water, but 15 minutes later felt great. I remember seeing the time on the scoreboard and I was in shock. I shaved over a minute off my personal best.
All of these things, to me, make that swim a "power swim." I even scratched all my backstroke events that day because I was so "high." I also remembered how stroke-by-stroke the entire 800 m. felt for several days.
Anyone else have this type of wonderful experience?
Donna
Former Member
Swimmerlisa:
I have only had power swims in swim meets because I had worked hard and tapered and had the lane to myself. But after reading what you wrote, and the feeling you experienced from it, sounds like a power swim to me!!! Hey, that's a lot of backstroke!! I have just never done personal bests in training, only meets, so I guess that was my starting point. But I am impressed that people obviously can do power swims while still in training. I am envious!!!
Donna
does a power swim only relate to meet swims? We did "power sets" with my club team once a month. My coaches favorite are:
6x100 your stroke for time from a dive on 6 minutes
I remember swimming my best times in practice and loving that feeling. it also got very competitive with my teammates, because we would be in heats.
3000 free for time from a dive.
There was one time in particular my shoulders were bothering me so my coach told me to swim a 2500 back. This was a great swim for me. I held the same pace for the first 1250, then pushed it and negative split at the back half. It felt great, I wanted to keep going and going.
*sigh* ohh the glory days :)
About a year ago I swam 2 miles. first 1800 28:37 next 1800 28:37....I realize it is not fast, but I thought the consistency was pretty cool for a fitness swimmer.
Thanks Fortress and Islandsox for the kind words.
Beth, 0.9 off in a 50 free!!! And within 0.5 of lifetime best after shoulder surgery! Wow! Congrats!
Greg and Donna, I am in awe of people that can go such speedy times for distance swims. Donna, anyone that can almost perfectly double their 500 time for a 1000... that is fantastic. Hang in there for the sprints, Donna. They can be so cruel... perfection is so critical.
Allen, although my breaststroke times are nowhere near the same league as yours, I remember almost none of my lifetime best 100 ***, which was nearly 2 seconds faster than any time I'd ever gone before. When your breaststroke is 'on', it is suuuuuch a good feeling!
I'm not sure I've ever had a masters power swim. :eek: I'm like Calamity Jane before swim meets. Allergies, colds from children, no sleep from night owl tendencies. Last March, I fell down a flight of stairs 2 weeks before a meet and further killed my shoulder. But I rallied and limped and somehow (my husband kindly brought me a :coffee: ) went a great 50 meter back where I really nailed the start, turn and finish -- an unusual feat for me.
Yes! I was blessed to have 2 in one meet! I will never forget the 2004 USMS Short Course Nationals at Indiana University. I swam almost lifetime best times in my 50 and 100 freestyles. I don't remember much about what I was thinking or feeling but I don't remember ever having any pain or hesitation. It was like an out of body experience. I just felt strong, powerful and in control the whole time! It was awesome! I remember finishing and looking up at my times on the wall and not believing my times. I did a double...and then a triple take! I took .9 seconds off my 50 and 2.8 seconds off my 100. I cried tears of joy because it was a big moral victory for me. I had been told by my orthopedist that I would never be able to swim like I did prior to my shoulder surgery! I was only about .5 seconds off my lifetime best in the 50 and about .7 off in the 100. It was very special!:D
