I've been swimming for about 3-4 months now, freestyle. For the first few weeks, i was all about technique and timed my 25's all the time. My record was about 25-30 secs. Since then I've been focusing on actual swimming, not so much thinking. anyways... i tried a few fast 25's and I'm in the 15-16 secs range now, and 20-23 secs for casual laps.
First, i don't know if its good or not. i mean, i read people do really great times and i wonder if it's because I'm Farley new or don't have good technique yet. Also, i need some idea on what time range i should be doing my 50's and 100's. What should my goal be for the next 3-6 months?
One more thing, i think i have short stroke rate. I actually counted mine yesterday for the first time... started with about 20, by the end i got i down to about 14-15 but i struggle. i don't know how to maximize my stroke. I feel i lose momentum and kick too much between strokes rather then kick slower and glide. I feel like I don't use the same technique i use when i swim regularly. Any tips on how to glide more? i did try focusing on moving forward and it worked, although i didn't do much body roll, i feel it actually slows me down.
Sorry for the long post. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have only been swimming two years so take my advice cautiously.
Is your stroke count 15 total strokes per 25 yds? if so that is very low.....which is a good thing. Ian Thorpe is probably around 12 per 25 yds. Could you clarify how you are measuring strokes? How tall are you and what is your reach?
I would say that a 30sec 50 is most exceptional for your experience. I swam for about 6 months before my first ever meet and think I did a 32sec 50 and a 1:10 100.
You should be 6 beat kicking. Developing a strong kick will bring your stroke count down.
There are alot of variables here, but do a 100, 200 and 1000 time trial in practice and post the times (do the 1000 on a different day). If you are not good at flip turns yet, just use good open turns, since crapy flip turns will screw up your time more than a good open turn.
Just timing a 25 will not be revealing enough as to where you are at. Keep a journal of your progression. Get yourself to a meet and swim the 50,100 and 200. Do this at least twice a year and have fun watching the times come down!!
One last piece of advice. Learn other strokes!! It will make you a faster freestyler. *** will teach streamlining, back will develop your kick and fly will build a great engine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dorianblade,
Congrats on your time reductions after only swimming a short period of time. I am not sure exactly how important time comparisons are except to figure out where you stand with your age group in swimming races. I would be more proud of the reductions you have already accomplished. Many times people can get impatient and not truly look at what they have already done in comparison to what needs to be done. It is a steep mountain if you only look at what you have not done. Small goals that you achieve, I think, are more important right now. I have always had this kind of thinking and I think that is one of the reasons I am still swimming today; baby steps toward learning and training and not expecting more than I should but being happily surprised if it happens.
Your stroke rate per 25 is already down. I started at about 22 to 24 per 25 and I now swim a consistent 10-11, 12 at race pace and, I am sorry to say, it took years of development because I was a youngster and still growing. With lots of swim time, things will happen naturally if you let them. The primary thing is to make sure that your technique is as clean and appropriate for you as it can be.
Kicking more to achieve a low stroke rate is not the point; your stroke needs to get you to that lower number and 14 to 15 is truly remarkable this early on. Wished I could have done it in several months. But the thing that makes MY stroke rate low is this: I grab and catch the water with my hand/forearm and NEVER let it go all through the stroke until the final moment. I also, on the reach, really reach as long as possible using hip rotation. Sometimes I think this is why I used to be 5'7 and am now 5'8 due to the long stretch (LOL). Hip rotation is primary for my breathing cycles, as well as long stroke rate. And my kick during this is a 2-beat kick.
And you will struggle as you work on stroke rate per length; but it can be an easy struggle in that it is not too hard on your body aerobically.
I am sure that after this weekend more people will be here to offer up more advice. Be proud of your accomplishments in a short period of time, but be ready to spend lots more time perfecting the things to get you swimming to a level you want.
Donna
To get an idea of times use the website, to research times for your age.
I swim 50's 100' free - at 45yrs. I'm doing 50 @30.24 (meet time) and 100 at 1:15- 1:10 push off wall in practice. I hoping to lower my 50 time and get a time trails time in my 100.
