Hey there-
Was just wondering if any of you felt like this...
At practice: I feel strong, my strokes feel perfect - everything is great.
When at meets: The second I dive in (this is primarily on backstroke, my best stroke) - and I feel like I'm out of control, I feel like I slip on every pull - not going anywhere but my arms are going fast.
What is going on? Do I need to lift weights or what?
Thanks - Sarah
Practice going fast. Do sprint sets in practice where you're focusing on going as fast as you can (for that moment), but being very mindful of your stroke.
Practice longer stuff (ie 150's and 200s) for your 50's and 100s - work the last half of those longer swims hard, but maintaining good form.
Do a 50 or two off the blocks at the end of practice. After the workout is done, do a 50/100 ez, then stick around a few minutes doing a couple 50s for time.
Slowly but surely, your race-time form will start getting better as you work on your speed AND form during your practice times.
Another tip - got a video camera? tape a few swims in practice, and take the camera to all your meets. look at the tape after the meets with your coach and talk about what you could be doing better. work on that in practice. I have been using the camera for years, and even today, I go back and look at certain races to see what I was doing right or wrong.
Practice going fast. Do sprint sets in practice where you're focusing on going as fast as you can (for that moment), but being very mindful of your stroke.
Practice longer stuff (ie 150's and 200s) for your 50's and 100s - work the last half of those longer swims hard, but maintaining good form.
Do a 50 or two off the blocks at the end of practice. After the workout is done, do a 50/100 ez, then stick around a few minutes doing a couple 50s for time.
Slowly but surely, your race-time form will start getting better as you work on your speed AND form during your practice times.
Another tip - got a video camera? tape a few swims in practice, and take the camera to all your meets. look at the tape after the meets with your coach and talk about what you could be doing better. work on that in practice. I have been using the camera for years, and even today, I go back and look at certain races to see what I was doing right or wrong.
