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)
I tried this today in my 100 free. Time comparison: today's 1:11 to Jan 31's 1:19. Of course I'm completely new to swimming so a lot of that is just my body getting into shape and in the mode of competitive swimming.
Of course, now I wonder how I would've done if I went all out on the first 50 like I did with my 1:19 a month and a half ago... I should try a 100 free off the block next practice and do it that way...
That's very interesting, Couroboros. Ande is always encouraging swimmers to do comparison tests.
Energy systems
To expand a bit on Jim's immediately preceding post on "at least three energy systems," the following from Wikipedia seems helpful. Link to whole article is at bottom:
There are three sources of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's main energy source on the cellular level.
ATP-PC System (Phosphogen System) - This system is used only for very short durations of up to 10 seconds. The ATP-PC system neither uses oxygen nor produces lactic acid and is thus said to be alactic anaerobic. This is the primary system behind very short, powerful movements like a golf swing or a 100 m sprint.
Anaerobic System (Lactic Acid System) - Predominates in supplying energy for exercises lasting less than 2 minutes. Also known as the Glycolytic System. An example of an activity of the intensity and duration that this system works under would be a 400 m sprint.
Aerobic System - This is the long duration energy system. By 5 minutes of exercise the O2 system is clearly the dominant system. In a 1 km run, this system is already providing approximately half the energy; in a marathon run it provides 98% or more.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Energy_systems
I tried this today in my 100 free. Time comparison: today's 1:11 to Jan 31's 1:19. Of course I'm completely new to swimming so a lot of that is just my body getting into shape and in the mode of competitive swimming.
Of course, now I wonder how I would've done if I went all out on the first 50 like I did with my 1:19 a month and a half ago... I should try a 100 free off the block next practice and do it that way...
That's very interesting, Couroboros. Ande is always encouraging swimmers to do comparison tests.
Energy systems
To expand a bit on Jim's immediately preceding post on "at least three energy systems," the following from Wikipedia seems helpful. Link to whole article is at bottom:
There are three sources of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's main energy source on the cellular level.
ATP-PC System (Phosphogen System) - This system is used only for very short durations of up to 10 seconds. The ATP-PC system neither uses oxygen nor produces lactic acid and is thus said to be alactic anaerobic. This is the primary system behind very short, powerful movements like a golf swing or a 100 m sprint.
Anaerobic System (Lactic Acid System) - Predominates in supplying energy for exercises lasting less than 2 minutes. Also known as the Glycolytic System. An example of an activity of the intensity and duration that this system works under would be a 400 m sprint.
Aerobic System - This is the long duration energy system. By 5 minutes of exercise the O2 system is clearly the dominant system. In a 1 km run, this system is already providing approximately half the energy; in a marathon run it provides 98% or more.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Energy_systems
