Hi Everyone,
I’ve been snooping around for some time, but just now getting around to posting. I’m looking for some advice in regards to “hitting a wall”.
I’m eventually looking to join up with a Masters team and enter competitions. 50 and 100 Free would be the focus first and grow from there as I get in better shape and work on other strokes. But first, I’m trying to push myself on my own due to a busy schedule.
Anyhow, I’ve hit a wall with the 100 free that I can’t seem to break through. I swim in a 25 meter pool and from a push off the best I can do is 1:00.xx. My current schedule is about to start lightening up, so I’m hoping to formulate a plan of attack in hopes of breaking that 1 minute barrier.
I consistently swim 11-13 strokes per length (depending on intensity), which, as far as I can find, seems to be ok. My flip turns have actually become decent over the past few months, but I’m restricted to a glide and then flutter kick off the wall as a dolphin kick seems to slow me down (though I’ve been working on it as well). My kick, however, seems to be the real problem. I do 25m repeats on the :45 with a kickboard and usually come in at 28 seconds. My ultimate goal would be to eventually kick a 100 SCM with a kickboard in 1:20. But this seems soooo far off!! My PB 50 SCM kick is 47.xx and my PB 100 SCM kick is 1:49.xx. If I remember correctly, I think I take between 38 and 40 kicks per 25M (does this seem excessively high?). I’m not sure if I’m not getting enough distance per kick or if my kick rate is just way too slow, or both.
I’ve read of couple of threads by Ande regarding kicking and collected some good ideas, such as doing 4x (3 x 25 swim on :45 and 1 ALL OUT kick for time). I also think I’m going to commit to his recommendation of kicking 25s until I get under 20 seconds, then focusing on 50s until I get under 45seconds, and so on. In the past, I think I’ve jumped to quickly to the 50s and 100s.
Does anyone have any other kicking sets like this that have worked well for you? I’m beginning to realize that I must go to the pool with these sets in mind, otherwise, when it comes to kicking, I’m just not good at making it up as I go. I also end up swimming more and kicking less. Right now, I’m putting in between 5,000 and 6,000 meters a week. I’m guessing that 800 to 1,500 of that is kicking, either with a kickboard or just 1 arm extended and kicking on my side.
Finally, part of my workout program includes weight lifting. I’m currently including leg press, leg extension, and leg curls in my routine. Anyone know of any exercises beyond these that have benefited them with the flutter kick? I’m unfortunate to have a weak lower body and I feel like this is hurting me. It’s amazing how much effort it seems to take just to get my lanky legs kicking at full speed. Anyone actually gotten into squats and seen improvement, or does pool-only work seem best?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any responses.
Parents
Former Member
Hi, Jason. I just gotta ask--1) how old are you, 2) did you swim in college at all, or just your senior year in high school, 3) what were your best times in competition in the past for the 50, 100, and any other YARD events you focused on?
You sound like the kind of person who, if you had started swimming at 5-8, could be a household name at this point!
Hi Jim,
It's hard to say whether or not I might have gotten good enough to swim in college. I like to think it would have been possible, but who knows. I'm just glad I discovered swimming as a worthwhile long-term activity.
I’m just about to turn 29. I spent all my youth playing baseball and was well on track to putting myself through college as a pitcher until I suffered an arm injury my sophomore year in high school. As a result, I was forced to spend all of my Junior year chasing girls. By my Senior year I wanted to get back into a sport, but my arm had not healed to the point that I’d be able to get my fastball back anytime soon, if ever – enter swimming.
Like most people I knew how to swim, but not swim. As soon as I learned how to breathe without swallowing water it became a lot of fun. I started swimming late August/early September, and by December I was fortunate enough to swim at State (Florida, 5A) on both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Not a single member of our relay team had more than 4 months swimming experience. All of us missed qualifying for individual events, but together we were competitive enough to make State in relays. Needless to say, we got spanked pretty badly at the State meet, but we still had fun. One thing I remember was being slightly embarrassed because it was clear that others expected us to be so much better since three of the four of us were between 6’4” and 6’6”. They just didn’t know we had so little experience.
I don’t remember my exact times, but after 3-4 months I was going 24s is the 50 Free and 58s in the 100 (obvious signs of poor conditioning here). I then followed my coach to swim with his year round team where he put me on weights along with more swimming. After a few months of this, I dropped to high 22s for 50 yards and 54.xx for the 100. This was as far as I was able to take the serious training, as I had to begin working after school in place of swimming if I had any intention of moving away to college. But at least I never had the chance to get burned out!
Hi, Jason. I just gotta ask--1) how old are you, 2) did you swim in college at all, or just your senior year in high school, 3) what were your best times in competition in the past for the 50, 100, and any other YARD events you focused on?
You sound like the kind of person who, if you had started swimming at 5-8, could be a household name at this point!
Hi Jim,
It's hard to say whether or not I might have gotten good enough to swim in college. I like to think it would have been possible, but who knows. I'm just glad I discovered swimming as a worthwhile long-term activity.
I’m just about to turn 29. I spent all my youth playing baseball and was well on track to putting myself through college as a pitcher until I suffered an arm injury my sophomore year in high school. As a result, I was forced to spend all of my Junior year chasing girls. By my Senior year I wanted to get back into a sport, but my arm had not healed to the point that I’d be able to get my fastball back anytime soon, if ever – enter swimming.
Like most people I knew how to swim, but not swim. As soon as I learned how to breathe without swallowing water it became a lot of fun. I started swimming late August/early September, and by December I was fortunate enough to swim at State (Florida, 5A) on both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Not a single member of our relay team had more than 4 months swimming experience. All of us missed qualifying for individual events, but together we were competitive enough to make State in relays. Needless to say, we got spanked pretty badly at the State meet, but we still had fun. One thing I remember was being slightly embarrassed because it was clear that others expected us to be so much better since three of the four of us were between 6’4” and 6’6”. They just didn’t know we had so little experience.
I don’t remember my exact times, but after 3-4 months I was going 24s is the 50 Free and 58s in the 100 (obvious signs of poor conditioning here). I then followed my coach to swim with his year round team where he put me on weights along with more swimming. After a few months of this, I dropped to high 22s for 50 yards and 54.xx for the 100. This was as far as I was able to take the serious training, as I had to begin working after school in place of swimming if I had any intention of moving away to college. But at least I never had the chance to get burned out!
