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)
Pete, let us know how it goes.
NewportGeek, I actually semi-agree with you--if you are in really, really good shape and have done a lot of lactate training.
But even here, you still have to take a little off the front end if you want to finish strong. It's a question of how much to take off--and the better sprint-trained you are, the less you have to surrender.
But you still have to surrender something. It would be intereeting to see Cielo or his ilk swim an all out 50 and keep going. Everybody ties up eventually. I am convinced he could not have kept going after his 18.47 without slowing down considerably on the third lap, and even more on the fourth. It's akin to a maximum bench press. Once you do the most you can do, you can't do another rep without recovery.
There are three (at least) different energy systems that fuel muscle contractions. The absolute all out drop dead one doesn't last long--maybe 8 seconds. In track, that's what 100 meter sprinters rely on.
In swimming, even the shortest race--the 50 free--lasts much longer than this system can keep the body going.
We kick into the second one, which burns carbs and lasts a bit longer. The third one (aerobic) burns fat and is what we rely on for really long swims.
Anyhow, it's not a matter of character but a matter of physiology and fuel.
That French guy who Lezak caught and beat in the relay was the poster boy for the approach you are advocating: no holds barred, crash and burn.
Pete, let us know how it goes.
NewportGeek, I actually semi-agree with you--if you are in really, really good shape and have done a lot of lactate training.
But even here, you still have to take a little off the front end if you want to finish strong. It's a question of how much to take off--and the better sprint-trained you are, the less you have to surrender.
But you still have to surrender something. It would be intereeting to see Cielo or his ilk swim an all out 50 and keep going. Everybody ties up eventually. I am convinced he could not have kept going after his 18.47 without slowing down considerably on the third lap, and even more on the fourth. It's akin to a maximum bench press. Once you do the most you can do, you can't do another rep without recovery.
There are three (at least) different energy systems that fuel muscle contractions. The absolute all out drop dead one doesn't last long--maybe 8 seconds. In track, that's what 100 meter sprinters rely on.
In swimming, even the shortest race--the 50 free--lasts much longer than this system can keep the body going.
We kick into the second one, which burns carbs and lasts a bit longer. The third one (aerobic) burns fat and is what we rely on for really long swims.
Anyhow, it's not a matter of character but a matter of physiology and fuel.
That French guy who Lezak caught and beat in the relay was the poster boy for the approach you are advocating: no holds barred, crash and burn.
