Last meet I swam the 100 and 200 IM, the latter for the first time ever. My best strokes are free and fly. My backstroke is quite lame. My breaststroke is slowly getting better. I have no illusions that I will ever get anywhere near a top ten in anything, least of all an IM event. But I would like to improve, and it give me a sense of accomplishment to swim all four strokes in a race and not drown (though the 200 introduced doubt on that front!)
I went 1:16.80 in the 100 (out in 35.83; back in 40.97)
In the 200, I went 2:51.82
fly 34.65
back 46.81
*** (falling piano) 53.83
free 36.53
The 200 was really a mixed bag--it felt absolutely horrible in the middle (why, oh why did I enter this event??? I am thinking about 20 yards into the breaststroke leg) but exciting to complete.
Any suggestions about IM sets for workouts (I swim alone, for the most part) or ways to think about the 200 race? Split goals, etc?? I'm sort of plateaued elsewhere, so this seems like a good thing to work on for awhile. My zone meet is at the end of this month, and I'd like to get the 200 down around 2:45 if possible.
Parents
Former Member
Red,
Congratulations on becoming an IMer. Racing four strokes is a good challenge.
I'm sure George is right about pacing your fly. As long as you feel relaxed and smooth, you won't gain anything by going out slower on your fly. My old high school coach, Matt Mann III, used to say: "You can't swim fast by going out slow." The opening fly is going to tire you out about the same whether it's quick or slow. As long as you aren't going a really HARD effort on your first 50, it's fine.
Here's a set you may like. I call these IM rotations:
9 X 100 / 2:00 interval (or whatever works for you)
#1 is 50 fly - 50 back
#2 is 50 back - 50 ***
#3 is 50 *** - 50 free
Repeat the cycle two more times.
This is a reasonable way to work on the transition from one stroke to the next.
Netho, a rookie poster, but a long time reader.
Red,
Congratulations on becoming an IMer. Racing four strokes is a good challenge.
I'm sure George is right about pacing your fly. As long as you feel relaxed and smooth, you won't gain anything by going out slower on your fly. My old high school coach, Matt Mann III, used to say: "You can't swim fast by going out slow." The opening fly is going to tire you out about the same whether it's quick or slow. As long as you aren't going a really HARD effort on your first 50, it's fine.
Here's a set you may like. I call these IM rotations:
9 X 100 / 2:00 interval (or whatever works for you)
#1 is 50 fly - 50 back
#2 is 50 back - 50 ***
#3 is 50 *** - 50 free
Repeat the cycle two more times.
This is a reasonable way to work on the transition from one stroke to the next.
Netho, a rookie poster, but a long time reader.
