At a local meet last weekend I did a 200 backstroke SCY, just for kicks. It was only the second time swimming it SCY, plus once LCM. I like to try out different things at meets just to shake up the routine and get a read on my progress, or lack-of.
After the swim, all of my team mates commented on the swim, saying it looked-- great, really smooth, strong, good rotation, strong walls, etc. The swim actually felt very good (I'd been sick all week and debated scratching), to the point it felt easy.
I would like to make this a "reguar" event, and have even added it to my nationals line-up (bonus event w/o qual. time). Would love feedback from those of you who consider yourselves 200 backstrokers.
How do I improve speed overall? Maintain speed on the back half (splits below)? Should I be using lots of legs throughout or save for the back half?
No video to share, but my splits from previous swims are:
8/08 LCM 3:07.22 --42.8 1:30.1(47.3) 2:20.0(49.9) 3:07.22 (47.2)
4/07 SCY 2:46.88 --1:19.4 (37, 42) 1:26.88 (43, 43)
3/08 SCY 2:41.xx -- 1:18.xx 1:22.xx (no 50 splits)
Clearly my second 100 needs work; although, this last time was better. My 100 usually runs around 1:16 high, so I think I'm taking it out ok. I get 3-4 SDK off each wall, which brings out past the flags.
I have two more opportunities to swim the 200 in meets before nationals. Any tips would be appreciated.
Dana
While I wouldn't say I'm a guru, nor very fast at the 200, I've always enjoyed it. I like to think of it this way: the race doesn't really start until the 100! You're supposed to build the 3rd 50 and hang on from there :]
Note: Fear of pain can lead to a bad swim! At a meet in Feb, I actually negative split the 200, totally unintentionally, and something I've never done in my swimming career! I just had Finnian a month before and knew I wasn't in any kind of shape, and I really was scared of the pain in my legs during the last 100. Needless to say going as easy as I did there was absolutely no pain anywhere! Stupid, stupid, stupid :[
While I wouldn't say I'm a guru, nor very fast at the 200, I've always enjoyed it. I like to think of it this way: the race doesn't really start until the 100! You're supposed to build the 3rd 50 and hang on from there :]
Note: Fear of pain can lead to a bad swim! At a meet in Feb, I actually negative split the 200, totally unintentionally, and something I've never done in my swimming career! I just had Finnian a month before and knew I wasn't in any kind of shape, and I really was scared of the pain in my legs during the last 100. Needless to say going as easy as I did there was absolutely no pain anywhere! Stupid, stupid, stupid :[
