In running, front running is a perfectly acceptable racing tactic. It could actually be utilizing a strength. Is it the same in swimming? It seems like I've read a lot about negative splitting and pacing. Does anyone here front run? (I think I've seen Kate Zeigler employ that strategy ...) Do we have to commit to hurt or is it better to commit to pace? (Sorry if that sounded like a Sex & The City question.)
I think it depends on the swimmer, the experience level, sprinting speed event vs distance endurance event, and the ability of a swimmer to incorporate race strategy and change the tactics of that strategy as the race dictates. Janet Evans in the distance free events had some of the greatest race strategies swimming the 400, 800, and 1500 Free. Basically if I recall the old 400 Free World Record of 4:03.85 was split 2:02 and high 1:01 for a negative split. The 800 Free Record of 8:16.22 was split evenly at 4:08 each way. I believe that most successful distance swimmers swim like this where as most sprinters amost never negative split.
There is ususally a drop off rate in races of 50, 100, and 200 distances. Ernie Maglischo made reference to this in his 3 excellent books that have been published in the last 25 years in Swimming Faster, Swimming Even Faster, and the newest Swimming Fastest. In each of those books he discussed the splits, race tactics, and strategies of the best American and World Swimmers of the time. A lot of the swimmers drop off rates were similar but depending on the event, stroke, and distance could be very different.
Also a lot of psychlogical things can happen effecting race strategy and tactics in a race. Some swimmers race an opponent and some race the clock and that could be a difference if they are a front runner or a back half racer.
I think it depends on the swimmer, the experience level, sprinting speed event vs distance endurance event, and the ability of a swimmer to incorporate race strategy and change the tactics of that strategy as the race dictates. Janet Evans in the distance free events had some of the greatest race strategies swimming the 400, 800, and 1500 Free. Basically if I recall the old 400 Free World Record of 4:03.85 was split 2:02 and high 1:01 for a negative split. The 800 Free Record of 8:16.22 was split evenly at 4:08 each way. I believe that most successful distance swimmers swim like this where as most sprinters amost never negative split.
There is ususally a drop off rate in races of 50, 100, and 200 distances. Ernie Maglischo made reference to this in his 3 excellent books that have been published in the last 25 years in Swimming Faster, Swimming Even Faster, and the newest Swimming Fastest. In each of those books he discussed the splits, race tactics, and strategies of the best American and World Swimmers of the time. A lot of the swimmers drop off rates were similar but depending on the event, stroke, and distance could be very different.
Also a lot of psychlogical things can happen effecting race strategy and tactics in a race. Some swimmers race an opponent and some race the clock and that could be a difference if they are a front runner or a back half racer.
