I have only raced the 100 free twice and have some questions on how to distribute my energy in the race.
I don't do fully rested time trials often in my workouts. I also swim in a 100 ft pool which make splits tough (no coach timing them either). So it is difficult for me to quantify how to race the 100 in practice. I thought it would be a good idea to hear from the strong sprinters.
Do you go all out right off the blocks and then hang on or take just a little off the first 50?
If not all out from the start and you open up and relax a little, do you relax both the flutter kick and upper body arm strokes equally, or just one?
Should I stretch out my underwater or breakout early? I'm not sure, but I think I am faster on the surface when all out, but maybe longer underwaters would delay upper body fatigue?
Also I breathe on every stroke right from the start even though I don't have to. I am thinking it may help in finishing the race by improving the aerobic component and delaying or reducing lactic acid buildup. Does this help, or should I breathe every other stroke until my body says to do it every stroke?
Alot of questions, but racing is new to me. Thanks for the advice!!!
Parents
Former Member
Swim fast and loose. Pace yourself with just a bit of control. You don't want to be spent at the 75 mark. The first 50 should be around a second off your best 50 time...and the back half should be paced about 2 and a half to 3 seconds off of that.
A good rule of thumb is...take your best 50 time....double it...and add 3 seconds. This formula has always been a fairly accurate guage of what kind of time you'll produce...assuming you're in good condition.
Streamline off of every turn. Any drag created by poor streamline is magnified when you're moving fast. What you do in practice...you will do in a race.
Ande has some very helpful hints on this topic.
Swim fast and loose. Pace yourself with just a bit of control. You don't want to be spent at the 75 mark. The first 50 should be around a second off your best 50 time...and the back half should be paced about 2 and a half to 3 seconds off of that.
A good rule of thumb is...take your best 50 time....double it...and add 3 seconds. This formula has always been a fairly accurate guage of what kind of time you'll produce...assuming you're in good condition.
Streamline off of every turn. Any drag created by poor streamline is magnified when you're moving fast. What you do in practice...you will do in a race.
Ande has some very helpful hints on this topic.
