I had a swimming experience that makes me rethink my approach to the 200 BR.2006 I swam a 2:48.34 200 SCM BR in a very well paced swim and was happy with it(it was the AA time.) At the SPMA meet I went out way too slow and swam a 2:52.40 and was not happy with it.Jim Clemmons went 2:46.33 at that meet.The next week I had the opportunity to swim another 200 BR and was determined to"redeem" myself.I didn't think I could match Jim's time,but I knew I could do better than the prior meet.My plan was to go out somewhere between fast and too fast because there was no way I was taking it out too slow again.My splits were
37.14,41.49,42.56,45.17 for a 2:46.36.OK Jim beat me by .03 sec(in the probable AA time) and it hurt like hell the last 50,but that was my fastest time in about 5 years. I can't explain it.Ideas?
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Former Member
Pacing in a 200 I don't think any one should do this (pace).
You should be able to go nearly top speed all the way.
I would sooner drop off my speed at the end of a race.
It is easier to win from the front in a 200 then to save it til the end.
This suggestion is not based on any science. No one in the real world, even elites are close to a 200 time that is 4 X their 50 time. Cesar Cielo can swim a 50 in 18.74. His 100 is about 42.0 or 2.2 X his 50 time. His 200 time?? Probably around 1:34 or 5 X his 50 time.
You use up your muscle glycogen in 25-30 secs. That's why you can get away with almost not breathing in a 50. Your body needs to tap into additional energy sources to race for 2 minutes. This kind of energy requires oxygen to use. Pacing is required.
I think that many today are very aggressive in their pacing - which guarantees they will leave everything in the pool. That may be a safer strategy than going out too slow and finishing a race regretting not swimming hard enough. It is easy to see how this varies by swimmer. When Phelps races Crocker in 100 fly - Crocker clearly beats Phelps to the first wall, but Phelps reels him in on the back 50. Phelps just doesn't have the speed of Crocker but has better endurance.
Pacing in a 200 I don't think any one should do this (pace).
You should be able to go nearly top speed all the way.
I would sooner drop off my speed at the end of a race.
It is easier to win from the front in a 200 then to save it til the end.
This suggestion is not based on any science. No one in the real world, even elites are close to a 200 time that is 4 X their 50 time. Cesar Cielo can swim a 50 in 18.74. His 100 is about 42.0 or 2.2 X his 50 time. His 200 time?? Probably around 1:34 or 5 X his 50 time.
You use up your muscle glycogen in 25-30 secs. That's why you can get away with almost not breathing in a 50. Your body needs to tap into additional energy sources to race for 2 minutes. This kind of energy requires oxygen to use. Pacing is required.
I think that many today are very aggressive in their pacing - which guarantees they will leave everything in the pool. That may be a safer strategy than going out too slow and finishing a race regretting not swimming hard enough. It is easy to see how this varies by swimmer. When Phelps races Crocker in 100 fly - Crocker clearly beats Phelps to the first wall, but Phelps reels him in on the back 50. Phelps just doesn't have the speed of Crocker but has better endurance.
