The thread about pacing made me wonder which is the best strategy for each race. Also I would like to know if you have a good strategy that makes you win or get into a good position.
examples:
50 free = all out, 100% from the beggining, good start from the block is crucial, Short course: most swimmer would suggest 1 breath on the first 25, and 2 breaths on the second. Also not to make the turn too long underwater.
500 free: I personally try to follow the faster guy the first 250 (if he is too fast or too far I try another swimmer faster than me), and then swim the last 250 as hard as possible, long turns, no breathing pattern.
200 im: I try to follow the faster guy on the 50 fly without kill my self, then is my race. The backstroke as fast as I can with the longest turns underwater possibles/ Make a good turn back-*** without breathing/
during the *** I never watch the wall, I try to concentrate on my technique to keep it as good as I can, and the last 50 free I usually breath everystroke.
Im gonna leave the idea, I want to see your strategies, like the pace on the 200 ***, etc.
Parents
Former Member
I suggest working to achieve the right splits. But this requires at least a bit of race history. I agree the 50 is an all-out race from the beginning. Maglischo's book Swimming Fastest suggests it might be possible to swim a faster 50 through a tiny bit of pacing. But a pacing error might cause you to swim too slow. The safest strategy is all out for the 50.
For other distances:
Example: your 50 free time is 30 secs.
100 free: Split 31/34 for a 1:05
200 free: Split 1:06/1:10 for a 2:16
(or similar)
My 15 yr. old son's recent times are:
50 free: 24.0
100 free: 25/27 = 52
200 free: 54/58 = 1:52
200 IM pacing depends at least a bit on strengths and weaknesses by stroke. But I suggest that 50 fly should be swum smooth+fast, about like the first 50 of a 100 fly. Resist the temptation to use your weak strokes as recovery phases. If your arms are lead (heavy) halfway through breaststroke you probably went too fast.
I suggest working to achieve the right splits. But this requires at least a bit of race history. I agree the 50 is an all-out race from the beginning. Maglischo's book Swimming Fastest suggests it might be possible to swim a faster 50 through a tiny bit of pacing. But a pacing error might cause you to swim too slow. The safest strategy is all out for the 50.
For other distances:
Example: your 50 free time is 30 secs.
100 free: Split 31/34 for a 1:05
200 free: Split 1:06/1:10 for a 2:16
(or similar)
My 15 yr. old son's recent times are:
50 free: 24.0
100 free: 25/27 = 52
200 free: 54/58 = 1:52
200 IM pacing depends at least a bit on strengths and weaknesses by stroke. But I suggest that 50 fly should be swum smooth+fast, about like the first 50 of a 100 fly. Resist the temptation to use your weak strokes as recovery phases. If your arms are lead (heavy) halfway through breaststroke you probably went too fast.
