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!
Parents
Former Member
This is just a guess.....but without a good bit of practice with pacing the OP will go too fast and die a terrible death on the 2nd half of the race.
A person accustomed to racing 50s is used to full speed straight off the blocks - so they are not used to holding back a bit for a longer race like a 200.
No matter what I suggest some race pace work in practice. Swim some very hard 200s as broken swims. Swim a 200 as 4 x 50 with 5 secs or 10 secs between each 50. Attempt to pace the 50s as you would a race. You will probably swim too fast on the first 50 and each 50 will get progressively worse. Your "splits" on the broken 200 will not be relatively even like what Pwolfe suggests.
I don't think you'll swim a 2:10 if your fastest 50 is a 26.8. I think you'll be closer to 2:15 unless you really are in pretty good aerobic shape. I don't mean to doubt your ability - I just swim with some 45-49 guys who swim 2:05-2:10 and they do 25.5 50s, and 55-56 sec 100s. These are guys who swim 500s around 5:45.
Good luck no matter what! I would definitely want to do some pacing practice in advance of the meet.
This is just a guess.....but without a good bit of practice with pacing the OP will go too fast and die a terrible death on the 2nd half of the race.
A person accustomed to racing 50s is used to full speed straight off the blocks - so they are not used to holding back a bit for a longer race like a 200.
No matter what I suggest some race pace work in practice. Swim some very hard 200s as broken swims. Swim a 200 as 4 x 50 with 5 secs or 10 secs between each 50. Attempt to pace the 50s as you would a race. You will probably swim too fast on the first 50 and each 50 will get progressively worse. Your "splits" on the broken 200 will not be relatively even like what Pwolfe suggests.
I don't think you'll swim a 2:10 if your fastest 50 is a 26.8. I think you'll be closer to 2:15 unless you really are in pretty good aerobic shape. I don't mean to doubt your ability - I just swim with some 45-49 guys who swim 2:05-2:10 and they do 25.5 50s, and 55-56 sec 100s. These are guys who swim 500s around 5:45.
Good luck no matter what! I would definitely want to do some pacing practice in advance of the meet.
