Help me split my 200y free

My two best 200s were essentially the same time, 155.+ One time I swam it 55 out; 1:00 back. The other time I swam it 57 out: 58 back. The second strategy actually gave me a better time by a few tenths, and it was much easier to do in terms of lactic-related pain. On the other hand, it is easy to screw up and go too slow on the first 100 and not be able to make it up, even with a very fast second 100. In terms of the quest for "easy speed," I have sometimes found that just telling myself to stay a little smooth and relax on the first half makes a big difference. You're probably going almost the same as you would be otherwise, but there's something about the word relax that just keeps the muscles loose. If you can do a lot of little meets, you can experiment with the different strategies. If you can only do one big meet, your times strike me as slightly better sprinting than distance, which suggests faster dying, which suggests that maybe you'd have better luck not killing yourself by going too fast on the first 100. Then again, my natural sprinter friends often try to go out fast and hold on. So what do I know? Good luck! The worst that can happen is A) a bad time, B) pain. Both will be forgotten in minutes to months, depending on your nature.

I'm thinking that I need to be just under 1:00 for the 100 and bring it home from there? Can I even get to a 2:03 from my 50/100 times? Yes. In my college swimming days, I went 55.4 in the 100 fly and 201.1 in the 200 fly. You ought to be able to get to a 2:03. I don't remember what I split though; let me see if I can dig up my splits somewhere.

john's right on the money he was a 1:35 200 freestyler back in the day Looking at your times if you go 24.79 in the 50 in the 100 you should go out in 25.79 and come home in at least 27.79 to go 53.58 you need to be more aggressive in the 100 fr you can go way faster than 55.46 your 2:04.24 200 where you split 30.31 31.50 31.44 30.99 I believe you can go 27.7 29.9 29.9 29.9 your splitting is pretty correct my guess is you're afraid of dying so you took it too easy on the front end of your race the 200 is a controlled sprint don't kill yourself on the 1st 100 keep your 100's 1, 2, 3, or 4 seconds apart finally to answer your Q I'm thinking that I need to be just under 1:00 for the 100 and bring it home from there? yes and you've got the speed to do go Can I even get to a 2:03 from my 50/100 times? Absolutely with out a doubt take your 100 time double it and add 10 seconds drop dead sprinters add 12 - 14 distance demons add 4 - 6 ie if you went 54.9 you should be able to break 2:00 this Saturday and achieve fame, fortune, the accolades of my peers . . . and my true goal, an NQT. I need a 2:03. 50 PR is 24.79 100 PR is 55.46, split 26.55 28.91 200 PR is 2:04.24, split 30.31 31.50 31.44 30.99 I took that out too slow, but I've been gun-shy after this debacle: 2:06.86, split 29.06 30.79 33.15 33.86 I consoled myself by blaming that race on the altitude (we were at 3,000 or so and I swim at sea level), but it still hurts to look at. I think the best 200 I ever split was SCM a year and a half ago: 2:19.90, split 33.17 35.46 35.49 35.78 I'm thinking that I need to be just under 1:00 for the 100 and bring it home from there? Can I even get to a 2:03 from my 50/100 times? Thanks for the help.

I will agree in a 50...regardless of yds/scm/lcm. In the 100...I disagree. I think each swimmer has to determine what works best for them. I personally find it better and faster for me to breath every 2 strokes. I think too few swimmers pay attention to the actual timing of the breathing. If we strive to improve the timing of when we take our breaths, we keep our speed up better.

Bill take it out faster and finish faster.

Hi There, I'd suggest working on that middle part of the race. I'd suggest do 50's on a pretty fast interval so your body get used to the endurance/ speed momentum. Try 5 X 50 on 40. The week after 10 X 50 on 40'' The week after 5 X 50 on 35"' The week after 10 X 50 on 35"' etc Good luck. My two cents Ncswim

A few thoughts on the 200 free.... - No more than a 3 second difference between the 1st and 2nd 100s on your splits. If you're a back halfer, a second and a half difference. - Always work the 3rd 50 proportionately harder than you think you should. Throw in the legs if you have any. - You should feel like throwing up on the 150 turn. Arms wasted and numb on the last 50. - If it's short course, never give up a good turn ! A chance for a free 1 foot lead on every wall. John Smith

Thanks for all the advice and kind words. I plan to try and forget about past debacles, take it out faster than I have been, work the third 50 harder than I think is prudent, and hang on for the last 50. I'll post the result, whether good, bad, or downright ugly.

this is how not to do a 200 fr In 1984 I did a 200 LCM fr splitting it 55.0 1:03.8 for a 1:58.8 the first 100 needs to be easy speed save your legs breathe plenty In 1981 I did a 200 LCM fly splitting it 1:00 1:17 for a 2:17 that last 100 was UGGGLLLEEE and PAINFUL the first 100 needs to be easy speed save your legs breathe plenty be relaxed stay smooth remember if you try to pick it up you'll shut down

In 1981 I did a 200 LCM fly splitting it 1:00 1:17 for a 2:17 that last 100 was UGGGLLLEEE and PAINFUL My God, man, it is painful just to READ those splits. Nothing worse than that "oh ****" moment when you are just halfway through the 200 fly... Have you swum it since? :)