I have been back swimming for several years. In that time I have mostly worked out alone, but sometimes swim with a group of people, one of whom has competed in masters meets on and off for years.
I used to be exclusively a freestyle sprinter, but out of boredom I started swimming IM. Last year swam my first 200 IM in competition, which hurt like hell but I got a bang out of it. Anyway I've been working on my fly on and off, and was stupid enough to mention to one of my workout buddies that I'd considered working up to the 100 fly as my next challenge.
He suggested a 400 yard fly set: 1x100, 2x50, 1x50+2x25, 4x25. I actually managed to do this three times in one week, but sort of crashed the next week--probably pushed it too hard. But for the first time in my life I actually swam 100 fly, and did so legally. (My 50 hovers at 32; I tried to negative split it the first time, and went 45 and 45 plus three seconds hanging on the wall at the 75 for a 1:33!)
Anyway I am swimming in a meet this weekend, and when I sent in my entry I totally chickened out and did not enter the 100 fly, which was right after the 50 free, which I also often swim.
I saw my friend Bill at the pool two days later and he asked about my events for said meet. I told him, and he nodded. "No 100 fly?" he asked. I said nope, maybe next meet. He nodded again and left for the post-workout hot tub. Ten minutes later he came back as I was finishing some 25s of fly at the end of my swim. He smiled and said, "I want you to know that I say this in the best possible way and from the bottom of my heart, but your failure to enter the 100 fly this weekend is the single most cowardly act in the history of competitive swimming."
I laughed, of course. But then I went home and emailed the meet director. I'm in. I sent in a seed time of 1:30 to guarantee that I could avoid a fast heat. God help me.
A diabolical taunt, don't you think?
I swam a fly race recently for the first time in many, many years (other than a 50 at a sprint pentathlon). I got repeat doses of some very valuable advice, which I will pass along to you: You cannot take the first 100 out too slow.
My race was a 200, but I believe the principle may apply to your race too.
I definitely feel that way about the 200, which I swim about twice a year, and I have the splits to prove it. But the 100 brings to mind a quote I read somewhere, maybe on this forum: "You can take it out fast and die or you can take it out slow and die." The correct choice is left as an exercise for the reader.
I swam a fly race recently for the first time in many, many years (other than a 50 at a sprint pentathlon). I got repeat doses of some very valuable advice, which I will pass along to you: You cannot take the first 100 out too slow.
My race was a 200, but I believe the principle may apply to your race too.
I definitely feel that way about the 200, which I swim about twice a year, and I have the splits to prove it. But the 100 brings to mind a quote I read somewhere, maybe on this forum: "You can take it out fast and die or you can take it out slow and die." The correct choice is left as an exercise for the reader.
