Help My Speed is Horrible!

Since there is Help my Flutter Kick is Horrible and Help my SDK is Horrible I decided to begin Help My Speed is Horrible! a thread for swimmers who want to dramatically improve their 25 speed and times Help My Speed is Horrible! is a Sprint improvement program If you do it consistently you should dramatically improve your 25 swimming time. When you improve your 25 speed you'll improve your times in all swimming distances especially 50's, 100's, & 200's even 400, 500, 800, 1,000, 1,500 & 1,650 times will benefit. Here's the Program for "Help My Speed is Horrible" Begin with testing figure out your starting point. Where are you now? Then train Then retest Test Get your times on the following swims 1) 15 meters 2) 25 3) 50 4) 75 & 5) 100 Test the 15, 25, & 50 on one day then the 75 & 100 on a different day put plenty of rest between each timed effort like a very easy 75 or 125 or 175 then 3 to 7 more minutes of rest put more rest between the longer sprints also note The suit you wore Your start: how did you start each swim (roll, push, or coaches go, ) dive from a block or side push from in the water Use a STOPWATCH tell the timer how you want them to time you Report your Results in this thread Training 1) do this set 2 or 3 times a week, 12 x 25 swim 3 EASY recovery concentrating on perfect form 1 as fast as possible for time YOU MUST GO SUPER FAST ON THESE IF YOU HOLD BACK AT ALL YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME preferably no breath, unless your 25 time is over 20 or 25 seconds It's OK to do more working out, just fit this set in some where in your workouts, be consistent, one round is better than none 2) Test every Friday or Saturday 1) 3 weeks of 15, 25, & 50 2) 1 week of 25, 75 & 100 3) work on improving your flutter kick and SDK www.usms.org/.../showpost.php www.usms.org/.../showpost.php if you're working on your swimming speed, SDK and Flutter kick do 2 x (4 x 25) swim 2 x (4 x 25) flutter kick 2 x (4 x 25) SDK 4) stretch your feet / ankles to improve your toe point 5) Lift weights to improve your strength power and speed 2 or 3 times a week 6) get a tech suit www.usms.org/.../showpost.php www.usms.org/.../showpost.php 7) perfect your swimming technique pushoff streamline SDK head position body position arm motions leg motions touching the wall (the clock doesn't stop until you touch the wall) 8) Train and test for 5 weeks then Rest one week, reduce your yardage Mon 2 x 4 x 25 Tue easy Wed 4 x 25 Thu easy Friday or Saturday TEST wearing a tech suit Report your results 9) begin another 6 week cycle Report your test results in this fashion (put most recent times on top) 8/10/08: 23.48 7/26: 25.92 7/6: 24.94 7/2: 25.45 5/10: 25.55 4/4: 27.18 3/29: 26.27 3/22: 27.62 3/15: 27.12 3/8: 28.0 3/1: 30.2 You should begin to see dramatic improvements in your 25 speed. I look forward to reading your results. Let me know if you accept this challenge Give it a try and see what happens Don't be fooled by how simple it is. Are you in?
  • Hey Ande, I want to start your program too. Here are my current times for freestyle, SCM, push start, regular briefs: 25 - 18.85 50 - 39.05 75 - 1:03.95 100 - 1:31.20 I'll use this version for a speed session, from your first post: 2 x (4 x 25) swim 2 x (4 x 25) flutter kick 2 x (4 x 25) SDK Will be doing it 3 times a week, and also 3 times weight training. My goal is 29.9 for 50m by March 2013. Thanks for the challenge! Radu hey Radu, I'm curious to see how you'll progress stay consistent and determined good luck
  • Did personal records at yesterday's workout: 25M free from a (loose, energy absorbing) block - 12.9* (twice), and pushed another one under 14 seconds**. Been static at these for almost 2 years. Spent fervent efforts working on streamlined speed and kicking to breakthrough. * Filmed them and got the time through Windows Movie Maker and rounded the hundredth to the tenth ** Forgot what it was to the tenth, but know for sure it was under 14 Do we get to see the videos?
  • Do we get to see the videos?Why yes, I just happen to conveniently have them loaded less of a drag - YouTube swimming like that dude who swims pretty good - YouTube
  • Did personal records at yesterday's workout: 25M free from a (loose, energy absorbing) block - 12.9* (twice), and pushed another one under 14 seconds**. Been static at these for almost 2 years. Spent fervent efforts working on streamlined speed and kicking to breakthrough. * Filmed them and got the time through Windows Movie Maker and rounded the hundredth to the tenth ** Forgot what it was to the tenth, but know for sure it was under 14
  • In the underwater vid, is it just me or is your head completely under? That'd be way too low imo.It is. It keeps my feet higher. I have a pointed head anyhow
  • In the underwater vid, is it just me or is your head completely under? That'd be way too low imo. Thanks for posting your videos! From the topside angle, it didn't look like your head was too low. I am no expert, but I thought the underwater view of your stroke looked good and balanced. :agree: And, your head doesn't look pointy to me. :shakeshead: So, Steve, when/what/where is your next meet? :D
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Why yes, I just happen to conveniently have them loaded less of a drag - YouTube swimming like that dude who swims pretty good - YouTube In the underwater vid, is it just me or is your head completely under? That'd be way too low imo.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    May have to try this with my new workout buddy since half the time I forget to look at the clock. I'll have to do some times tomorrow (though on past workouts, my rough estimate of 25 meters Free is 15 seconds, though I haven't timed anything full-on out yet). I don't have a tech suit though. Bit too expensive for my price range. :(
  • Why yes, I just happen to conveniently have them loaded less of a drag - YouTube swimming like that dude who swims pretty good - YouTube You swim with your arms very straight.If this is a sprint,fine,but otherwise it takes too much energy.It is impossible to be sure from that angle but there are hints you are leading with your elbows.If I am wrong,sorry, but I think you would benefit from working on EVF.
  • Thank you Allen, I just compared that to the only other static underwater front view I know of (Nystrand), and noticed extreme differences, namely sholder orientation which pretty much sets up the forearm. My torso also fish tails out of streamline, but I have minimized that some. I'll work those areas, head position, catch, and streamline