Since I am relatively new at swimming, I'm wondering how to figure out if I am biased one way or another towards sprinting or middle distance. When I was real new at swimming I was clearly biased towards sprinting because I'm finding out now it takes a long time to develop the longer distances. Now I am wondering if the 500 is more of a race for me.
I came up with the percentage of 100 free speed I swim with for the 500.
I took 100free/500free = x/100 and my "x" is 78% for a 58sec free and a 6:11 500free.
In other words I can hold 78% of my all out 100 speed for 500 yards.
What is everyone else's number? Should a middle distance swimmer be able to hold 85% of their 100 speed, even 90%, and a drop dead sprinter have a lower number like 75-80%? This might me a fun number to play with.
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Hey Rob,
Your formula is pretty interesting.
I also think the 200 is a good test to see what you're made of. Most sprinters take it out fast and drop off.
A distance swimmer tends to hang on.
There are some unique cases of swimmers being able to excel at both the sprints and the longer races.
Ryan Lochte has gone 19 low for the 50, and he also has been 4:13 for the 500.
Not many sprinters could do that caliber of a 500 time. And likewise not many distance people could muster up that kind of speed for a 50.
My 2 cents...If you can swim the 500 and come out with a smile on your face...you're not a sprinter.
Hey Rob,
Your formula is pretty interesting.
I also think the 200 is a good test to see what you're made of. Most sprinters take it out fast and drop off.
A distance swimmer tends to hang on.
There are some unique cases of swimmers being able to excel at both the sprints and the longer races.
Ryan Lochte has gone 19 low for the 50, and he also has been 4:13 for the 500.
Not many sprinters could do that caliber of a 500 time. And likewise not many distance people could muster up that kind of speed for a 50.
My 2 cents...If you can swim the 500 and come out with a smile on your face...you're not a sprinter.
