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!!!
It sounds like relaxing just a bit in the first 50 may be the thing to do. I guess it depends on the splits. If the splits are too even, then go out harder. Last 100 race I went 31/37 and my 50 time was 29, so I definately backed off a little and still gassed out bad at the end. That was last year and since then I have been training my base. I think it will be completely different this year.
I didn't realize that you should breathe every other for the whole race and then less in the last 25! I find myself wanting air on every stroke towards the end, I guess I should resist and just hold it. Does breathing really slow you down?
It sounds like relaxing just a bit in the first 50 may be the thing to do. I guess it depends on the splits. If the splits are too even, then go out harder. Last 100 race I went 31/37 and my 50 time was 29, so I definately backed off a little and still gassed out bad at the end. That was last year and since then I have been training my base. I think it will be completely different this year.
I didn't realize that you should breathe every other for the whole race and then less in the last 25! I find myself wanting air on every stroke towards the end, I guess I should resist and just hold it. Does breathing really slow you down?
