I've never raced a 200, or even a 100 FR; my 50 FR SCY is 26.8.
I'm in a USA meet Sept 20th - expecting to get trounced by kids half my age, but still I want to put in a good showing.
How should I race? What should my 50 pace be? How do I not die on the last 50? etc...
I'm 44, male, swimming masters only 2 years, still learning lots, and open to all feedback - thanks!
You want to swim the first 50 fast, not all out but fast so you maximize the speed from the start. Want to swim this first 50 about 3 seconds off your 50 time. Then try to settle into a strong stroke for the middle 100, keep your legs steady but do not over kick. On the last 50 build into it with whatever you have left and ramp up the kick.
It's a 200, it's gonna hurt. There's nothing you can do to avoid it but it's HOW it hurts that you can control.
I will second the opinion that you MUST do some fast 100s and fast 200s for time BEFORE you swim the meet. The danger of having the meet 200 be your first 200 is that you will go too hard (or even too easy) on the front and fall apart on the back.
Get someone with a watch to time you on a 200 and make sure to include splits. If you are a 26.8 50y sprinter and all things being equal, you should be able to swim it in about 2:10 but do not take that as gospel. Anticipated spliting should be
29.6
32.9
33.3
32.6
You want to swim the first 50 fast, not all out but fast so you maximize the speed from the start. Want to swim this first 50 about 3 seconds off your 50 time. Then try to settle into a strong stroke for the middle 100, keep your legs steady but do not over kick. On the last 50 build into it with whatever you have left and ramp up the kick.
It's a 200, it's gonna hurt. There's nothing you can do to avoid it but it's HOW it hurts that you can control.
I will second the opinion that you MUST do some fast 100s and fast 200s for time BEFORE you swim the meet. The danger of having the meet 200 be your first 200 is that you will go too hard (or even too easy) on the front and fall apart on the back.
Get someone with a watch to time you on a 200 and make sure to include splits. If you are a 26.8 50y sprinter and all things being equal, you should be able to swim it in about 2:10 but do not take that as gospel. Anticipated spliting should be
29.6
32.9
33.3
32.6
