My goal was 4500; I went 4550, holding 1:19s. My training partner pulled away at 3000 and finished with 4625; I didn't try to stay with him. The first 2500 felt great (effortless?), but after 3000 I began feeling hungry and didn't want to bonk (we swam at 7am so there was no prerace meal other than my usual latte). Surprisingly, my time at the 3000 mark was only 15 seconds slower than my 3000 Postal time in November. My breathing pattern for the first 3500 was two breaths on the left, one on the right--which worked well. Looking forward to tapering (and shaving) at the end of the month for the Charlotte meet where I'll be squaring off with the Geek (and my training partner) in the 500. One of my college coaches used to say that the 500 is a sprint. Now I believe him.
I think I have adequate conditioning. I need to focus on technique and race pace swimming.
Parents
Former Member
I joined my Masters group in September '05, and did the 1 hour in January. I remember hating it, looking at the clock a lot, and having my technique fall apart fairly often.
This morning I hated it, looked at the clock a lot, and held my stroke a lot better -- and went about 10% further. That seems like decent improvement in a year. I'll take it, anyway.
Great job Bill! I'm a semi-seasoned swimmer and the postal scares the heck out of me - still does. I started to worry about it a couple days prior to the swim. I know my form fell apart about halfway into the swim. Instead of gliding across the water it felt more like "ker-plunk, ker-plunk" due to my breathing every two. I really don't think I'll be able to do 10% further next year - I think that's a super improvement you made.:notworthy: I too kept looking at the clock on occasion - was helpful and a bit distracting.
I joined my Masters group in September '05, and did the 1 hour in January. I remember hating it, looking at the clock a lot, and having my technique fall apart fairly often.
This morning I hated it, looked at the clock a lot, and held my stroke a lot better -- and went about 10% further. That seems like decent improvement in a year. I'll take it, anyway.
Great job Bill! I'm a semi-seasoned swimmer and the postal scares the heck out of me - still does. I started to worry about it a couple days prior to the swim. I know my form fell apart about halfway into the swim. Instead of gliding across the water it felt more like "ker-plunk, ker-plunk" due to my breathing every two. I really don't think I'll be able to do 10% further next year - I think that's a super improvement you made.:notworthy: I too kept looking at the clock on occasion - was helpful and a bit distracting.
