Did you break 1:50 in the 200yd fr as a Master's swimmer?
Former Member
I would really like to hear if you have broken 1:50 for the first time as a USMS swimmer. What level of training got you there?
I certainly want to hear from anyone who is going fast in the 200.
A little background: I only swam club for two years in HS, and outside of masters, only swam competitively for 3 years total. My best 200yd free time was a 1:50.0x. I am in my early 30s so I think setting PRs are still within easy reach. The season leading up to that time, I was averaging 65k/week iirc.
The Master's team I train with works out 3 times a week, 4-5k/workout, the average being closer to 4k. This is the only team that it is realistic for me to train with at this time.
We are getting a new pool in 2012, and until then I do not believe it is realistic to train with the kids.
There are two other pools in the area that do not have teams that train at them that I can workout on my own at.
It is very realistic that I can work with my MS coach to customize my workouts.
I have gone 2:10 from a push in practice, but I certainly couldn't go 3x200 on 2:10 right now. I am afraid my SCM 200 time actually converts slower than that, so I don't have a good recent race pace time to share.
Given that small book of information: Am I getting enough yardage, and I just need to focus my training on my goal, or do I need to increase yardage and workouts? To what level was successful for you?
If the consensus is a need for significantly more yardage and workouts, I will use this season to ramp up and solve logistics.
I'm about to turn 51 in March and acquired "a liking" for the 200 free recently.
I have not trained specifically for this event, and so began to look around and ask for some advice on how to prepare better for it for this season.
A very good source gave me a 200 free practice set that is almost identical to the one that Erik gave you here on this thread.
Since I am literally self-coached, I also appreciate any direction.
I have good training partners in practice but no direct coaching per se.
Last year at SC Nationals I swam a 2:04.
In my senior year of high school, my best was once, a 1:59.5.
Have always considered myself a dropdead sprinter - and I certainly swam that 1:59.5 in that very painful manner :)
Took me 30+ years to go at a 200 free positively again - ha ha!
Its' been a lot of fun to strategize and work on bringing swim times down. The big improvement/changes for me have been:
Turns - small, tight, & quick
Streamlines - I had no such thing a year and a half ago!
Kicking - still REALLY have to work on this
I enjoy training to accomplish a better 200 free - but not always the head to head competition that others seem to enjoy so much.
But I definitely go to meets and swim the events as fast as I can.
Good luck!
I'm about to turn 51 in March and acquired "a liking" for the 200 free recently.
I have not trained specifically for this event, and so began to look around and ask for some advice on how to prepare better for it for this season.
A very good source gave me a 200 free practice set that is almost identical to the one that Erik gave you here on this thread.
Since I am literally self-coached, I also appreciate any direction.
I have good training partners in practice but no direct coaching per se.
Last year at SC Nationals I swam a 2:04.
In my senior year of high school, my best was once, a 1:59.5.
Have always considered myself a dropdead sprinter - and I certainly swam that 1:59.5 in that very painful manner :)
Took me 30+ years to go at a 200 free positively again - ha ha!
Its' been a lot of fun to strategize and work on bringing swim times down. The big improvement/changes for me have been:
Turns - small, tight, & quick
Streamlines - I had no such thing a year and a half ago!
Kicking - still REALLY have to work on this
I enjoy training to accomplish a better 200 free - but not always the head to head competition that others seem to enjoy so much.
But I definitely go to meets and swim the events as fast as I can.
Good luck!