I don't know if any of you have been following the new feature at the Swimming World website called "A day in the life" which has been following the daily routine (written by the subject) of various swimmers. It has been fascinating reading anyway, but now they feature a masters swimmer: Dennis Baker. We have expressed awe and admiration for his feats, now learn what he does to achieve his high level plus his life on a veritable coaching merry-go-round. And do note that most of his workouts are in meters. Day 2 has just been posted.
Former Member
I saw him swim at Santa Clara last year in a consolation final. There was a much younger swimmer in the lane next to him swimming freestyle who had a hard time keeping up as I recall!
About the fly commentary, why the obsession with breathing every other stroke when one of the two fastest flyers in the world breathes on every stroke?
You should try a 200 once or twice for sheets and googles. Unless you are actually trying, its not really as bad as it sounds
I am not yet possessed by demons like that Barra fellow. I might possibly (in a million years) consider trying it for tricks and giggles if I actually swam in more meets and went to all my team practices. Since I can't make it to that many during the school year, I tend to be choosy, trying to swim my better events at the fast pools (and skip those obscenely early meets ;) that conflict with my kids' stuff -- good luck this weekend!). But I have a couple events that I'd like to say "I did it" about. Just not that one. I raced William in the 200 fly in practice last fall. That was enough for me. Shortly thereafter, with a bunch of 4 IMs and more fly, the achey breakies started. So, as much as I love fly, I have to restrain myself and pretend to be a sometime backstroker.
Plus, who wants to race if you're not "actually trying?" I'm sure I could dolphin dive the whole 200. But that's no fun. Much more fun to actually go fast at a meet IMHO.
:dedhorse:
Kathy:
Engine building is more for the 100 and 200 fly. You need an engine to prevent undue breakdown and cardiac arrest. Underwater SDKs are great. I love them. But they help you more with SDK-ing than building an aerobic base. I guess they help with getting used to breath holding. Anyway, for the 50 and 100, they're key. I'm glad you have good technique. It's pretty indispensible.
10x300s fly? I could not locate where he did that.
Is there a link for that Sat workout? I could not hack that.
I found where he posted his Tuesday, January 30 practice which seemed reasonable.
Yeah, he mentioned it in his day one writeup: www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../13563.asp
Thanks Kirk. I missed that page.
Hmmm. . . I happily revel in my slowness rather than do that set.
try working on breathing with your chin in the water. if you do it well, some one standing behind you should not be able to tell which strokes you are breathing on.
for racing i follow:
50- breathe when necessary
100- breathe 2 or 3 strokes
200- breathe every stroke. (air is food)
in practice, the waves often dictate just how high i have to come up to breathe, but i still like to breathe every stroke. it also helps to identify potential collisions (and help avoid them) in our 6 foot wide lane pool.
David- your latest picture perfectly illustrates the demonic possession necessary to the swimming of 200 fly.
posted by That Northern Dude
I agree, I often call forth my inner demon "The Bork" (a terrifying monster that possessed my soul many years ago) every time I get ready for a 200 fly race.
Newmastersswimmer
p.s. Dennis Baker is insane!...but a clear swimming Demi-God. I read somewhere that he likes to enter the 500 free at some agegroup meets and he swims them butterfly. I think he went like 5:07 or so in one of those swims?.....
All I'll say is you Fly-nuts better get in th water. The Breaststrokers are coming to play...you wouldn't want us to do 200's and show you how it's done now would you...
/flex (both arms)
:woot:
LOL
I should be careful Dave Barra is close enough to drive to my pool and psyche me out...his pictures don't scare me though ;)
Yeah, we could trade stories of violent, painful deaths at the 200 distance for both strokes. I feel that Leslie finds the thought of a 200 fly repulsive because of some horrendous incident as a young swimmer, however, I sense that she's on the edge of letting herself be talked into it. I'll pay to watch...
No, no horrendous childhood incident, Peter. :thhbbb: Just swam it a whole lot. I preferred the 100, but the 200 was pretty fun too. (No violent painful death if your regular strategy is to loaf the first 100.) I'm sure I've swum more 200 flys in my life than many butterfroggers on the forum. ;) But I am definitely not on the verge of being talked into it, so you can save your money, Mr. Biblioman. (Besides, I don't want to give up my FAF Sista status.) I was alluding to being talked into the 200 IM someday. But my next few meets, assuming I go, are all booked up with sprints of 100 or 'd pay to watch your 200 fly though or SwimStud's. :cool:
:dedhorse:
Yeah, we could trade stories of violent, painful deaths at the 200 distance for both strokes. I feel that Leslie finds the thought of a 200 fly repulsive because of some horrendous incident as a young swimmer, however, I sense that she's on the edge of letting herself be talked into it. I'll pay to watch...
