Hey, I'm a 16 year old junior in high school, and well, I'd appreciate it if I could get some help with my swimming. I started swimming last year and can do every single stroke legally (minus breaststroke...oddly enough...) but my favorite stroke is freestyle. I have swam a 100 free starting off the wall in 1:00 and I'm also wondering what the most efficient way to swim it is, because when I made that time (my personal best, sadly) I sprinted the whole time. In addition, because this start was off the wall, I did not get to start off the block, I am 5'8" and weigh 122 and I'd just like any tips you can throw my way! Thanks in advance, and I also swim the 500 free on occasion so I would also appreciate any help on this. (Last year I swam the 200 and 500 free, this year I am hoping to swim the 100 free and 500 free)
Paul et al:
First, I should give credit where credit is due. The friend who told me this strategy back around 1990 is Mark Vagle. The last time I saw Mark was in Dallas, and we have since lost touch. I don't know if he is still swimming, but he was great when I knew him. If anybody out there knows Mark, please ask him to contact me.
Second, re: throwing the game plan out the window when you hit the water. Most of us are so hopped up on adrenaline at the beginning of a race that this is natural. You are going to go fast regardless of what you tell yourself. Mark's suggestion was not to override this impulse, but rather try to moderate it.
Paul, when you hit the water, just tell yourself to stay smooth. "Easy speed" is an elusive concept, but to me, the only difference between this an an all out sprint is a slight degree of mental relaxation that allows you to stay a wee bit longer and looser than you otherwise would. It doesn't seem like much, but especially when you concentrate on thinking "long and smooth" on that third length, it postpones the wall of lactate threshold just long enough to let you finish without turning to tungsten and sinking, metaphorically or actually, 5 yards from the finish.
Paul et al:
First, I should give credit where credit is due. The friend who told me this strategy back around 1990 is Mark Vagle. The last time I saw Mark was in Dallas, and we have since lost touch. I don't know if he is still swimming, but he was great when I knew him. If anybody out there knows Mark, please ask him to contact me.
Second, re: throwing the game plan out the window when you hit the water. Most of us are so hopped up on adrenaline at the beginning of a race that this is natural. You are going to go fast regardless of what you tell yourself. Mark's suggestion was not to override this impulse, but rather try to moderate it.
Paul, when you hit the water, just tell yourself to stay smooth. "Easy speed" is an elusive concept, but to me, the only difference between this an an all out sprint is a slight degree of mental relaxation that allows you to stay a wee bit longer and looser than you otherwise would. It doesn't seem like much, but especially when you concentrate on thinking "long and smooth" on that third length, it postpones the wall of lactate threshold just long enough to let you finish without turning to tungsten and sinking, metaphorically or actually, 5 yards from the finish.
