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
a good rule of thumb is
double your 100 time
add 10 seconds
ie
100 time 50.0
50 + 50 = 100 seconds or 1:40
1:40 + 10 = 1:50
distance swimmers will be under 10
most fall between 5 - 8 seconds
some sprinters are over 10
each swimmer has a performance range depending on
how well they split their races, hit their turns and just feel ON.
This "rule" seems reasonable for elite swimmers.
But because I was bored and like spreadsheets.....
I looked at they SY Nat times in the 45-49 age group. I looked for men that swam the 50/100/200 or at least the 100/200.
There were not too many at first glance that swam all three. Paul Smith did - via his 1000 opening 100.
Only two 100/200 swimmers I looked at beat their 10 second rule time. The average 200/100 ratio of six swimmers I looked at was 2.25. The best was 2.18. He swam 48.16/145.13. His 10 sec rule time would be 146.32. This swimmer is also a 500 swimmer. Paul Smith's ratio was 2.21. He essentially matched his 10 sec rule time. Paul's 200 free was a national record.
So - at least for Master's swimmers in our age - it seems only elite swimmers can come close to this rule.
a good rule of thumb is
double your 100 time
add 10 seconds
ie
100 time 50.0
50 + 50 = 100 seconds or 1:40
1:40 + 10 = 1:50
distance swimmers will be under 10
most fall between 5 - 8 seconds
some sprinters are over 10
each swimmer has a performance range depending on
how well they split their races, hit their turns and just feel ON.
This "rule" seems reasonable for elite swimmers.
But because I was bored and like spreadsheets.....
I looked at they SY Nat times in the 45-49 age group. I looked for men that swam the 50/100/200 or at least the 100/200.
There were not too many at first glance that swam all three. Paul Smith did - via his 1000 opening 100.
Only two 100/200 swimmers I looked at beat their 10 second rule time. The average 200/100 ratio of six swimmers I looked at was 2.25. The best was 2.18. He swam 48.16/145.13. His 10 sec rule time would be 146.32. This swimmer is also a 500 swimmer. Paul Smith's ratio was 2.21. He essentially matched his 10 sec rule time. Paul's 200 free was a national record.
So - at least for Master's swimmers in our age - it seems only elite swimmers can come close to this rule.
