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.
Michael,
You received a lot of great advice from some of the best masters swimmers out there. I am no expert like they are, but I did barely break 1:50 last year for the first time as a masters swimmer. It was probably my worst swim at nationals last year because I really didn't train specifically for it, I went out way too slow, and didn't put much thought into the race strategy. I typically swim 3 times a week, but last year the last few months before nationals I consistently swam 4 times a week and occasionally hit 5 times a week although the 5th practice was mostly starts, turns, and some sprinting. I think swimming at least 4 times a week is a must unless you are gifted. Even though speed is very important, I think swimming sets of 50s on :35 and 100s on 1:10 leading up to the meet gave me the confidence that I could bring back the last 100 fast enough to break 1:50 even if I went out slow (which ended up being the case going out in 54.3). I like Mike's set of swimming 50s on 45 and holding 27 or better as well. I doubt I can do more than 3 200s in a row on 2:10 so I wouldn't necessarily look for that as a benchmark. I didn't lift weights either, but I think lifting would be a big help.
Good luck,
Tim
Michael,
You received a lot of great advice from some of the best masters swimmers out there. I am no expert like they are, but I did barely break 1:50 last year for the first time as a masters swimmer. It was probably my worst swim at nationals last year because I really didn't train specifically for it, I went out way too slow, and didn't put much thought into the race strategy. I typically swim 3 times a week, but last year the last few months before nationals I consistently swam 4 times a week and occasionally hit 5 times a week although the 5th practice was mostly starts, turns, and some sprinting. I think swimming at least 4 times a week is a must unless you are gifted. Even though speed is very important, I think swimming sets of 50s on :35 and 100s on 1:10 leading up to the meet gave me the confidence that I could bring back the last 100 fast enough to break 1:50 even if I went out slow (which ended up being the case going out in 54.3). I like Mike's set of swimming 50s on 45 and holding 27 or better as well. I doubt I can do more than 3 200s in a row on 2:10 so I wouldn't necessarily look for that as a benchmark. I didn't lift weights either, but I think lifting would be a big help.
Good luck,
Tim
