IMer's I need a 200m IM split diagnosis

Don't know that you can really draw conclusions from this info. You probably are a sprinter, like Ande says. Didn't you say once that you ran the 200 and 400 in track? So you're likely very strong. While Paul is right that no one can be at the top while muscling out distances, I totally agree with Kirk. Especially for those of us who do not have a swimming background, you can muscle through shorter races a lot more than the longer ones. I betcha you're relying on your strength and natural athleticism (and running background) in the 50 and inefficiency is hurting you in the longer events. I'd work on technique, but more importantly, holding technique when your body is failing... ie., descending sets, maintaining stroke count, coming up past the flags off every turn, sticking with your breathing pattern, keeping your kick at whatever cadence you're shooting for, etc etc at the END of workout... Like what you said here. Just makes me wonder - I've heard from top swimmers/ coaches that on sprints: You can muscle through them due to the short duration and do well and conversely, You can't muscle through sprints as you have to have flawless technique And on distance, I've heard: You can have poor technique and just a strong aerobic base and outlast everyone and conversely, You have to have great technique and can't muscle through it Gah!

Don't know that you can really draw conclusions from this info. You probably are a sprinter, like Ande says. Didn't you say once that you ran the 200 and 400 in track? So you're likely very strong. While Paul is right that no one can be at the top while muscling out distances, I totally agree with Kirk. Especially for those of us who do not have a swimming background, you can muscle through shorter races a lot more than the longer ones. I betcha you're relying on your strength and natural athleticism (and running background) in the 50 and inefficiency is hurting you in the longer events. I'd work on technique, but more importantly, holding technique when your body is failing... ie., descending sets, maintaining stroke count, coming up past the flags off every turn, sticking with your breathing pattern, keeping your kick at whatever cadence you're shooting for, etc etc at the END of workout... Like what you said here. Just makes me wonder - I've heard from top swimmers/ coaches that on sprints: You can muscle through them due to the short duration and do well and conversely, You can't muscle through sprints as you have to have flawless technique And on distance, I've heard: You can have poor technique and just a strong aerobic base and outlast everyone and conversely, You have to have great technique and can't muscle through it Gah!