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.
Kristina,
I do train with men for the most part. My regular training partner is great. He started out as a sprinter, but I've almost converted him to a distance swimmer. Much to his surprise, he discovered that he likes the 500, after swimming it at Nationals last year and kicking my butt! Boo-hoo. Maybe I'll talk him into a 1000 for this year, so he can beat me again.
There are a few other guys who I train with occasionally, but they are so much faster than I am that it can get depressing. Sometimes I'll end up in the same lane as Jeff Erwin (mentioned earlier in this thread for his hour-postal record) during long course season, and I lose track of the number of times he laps me, even in a 50M pool.:(
How many yards did you get in each 15 minute section? Obviously you must have been around 1250 each time, but I'm curious how your yardage changed with fatigue. Also, how much of the 15 minutes was left for rest after you finished each section? I've never tried breaking it up; don't know if it would work for me.
Floyd,
I haven't heard anything about meets for this spring. If I do, I'll let you know. Good luck in your postal. I know that it's hard to do alone. I can never seem to make it to the Sat. and Sun. sessions arranged by Jill, so I end up swimming alone during regular practice times.
Kristina,
I do train with men for the most part. My regular training partner is great. He started out as a sprinter, but I've almost converted him to a distance swimmer. Much to his surprise, he discovered that he likes the 500, after swimming it at Nationals last year and kicking my butt! Boo-hoo. Maybe I'll talk him into a 1000 for this year, so he can beat me again.
There are a few other guys who I train with occasionally, but they are so much faster than I am that it can get depressing. Sometimes I'll end up in the same lane as Jeff Erwin (mentioned earlier in this thread for his hour-postal record) during long course season, and I lose track of the number of times he laps me, even in a 50M pool.:(
How many yards did you get in each 15 minute section? Obviously you must have been around 1250 each time, but I'm curious how your yardage changed with fatigue. Also, how much of the 15 minutes was left for rest after you finished each section? I've never tried breaking it up; don't know if it would work for me.
Floyd,
I haven't heard anything about meets for this spring. If I do, I'll let you know. Good luck in your postal. I know that it's hard to do alone. I can never seem to make it to the Sat. and Sun. sessions arranged by Jill, so I end up swimming alone during regular practice times.
