One time conversion tool I have used only does freestyle for 50 yard/meter distances. For other strokes like breaststroke the turns are a very significant part and I'm wondering how close a simple 1.1 conversion is.
Based on the 50 BR event rankings, I went from 58/90 SCM (38.54) to 50/141 SCY (32.61), so I definitely went faster but it's hard to pin down how much.
I think a large part of this was from changes in my weightlifting routine.
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My actual time still isn't all that great, it's just the time drop I'm pleased with. I expected I was only going to see tenths of a second improvements on 50s from here on out. I probably just wasn't working the specific muscles used in breaststroke enough with my previous weight training and swimming routines.
Here is what I have done differently the past few months.
1) Added the following exercises to my routine: front dumbbell raise, reverse flys, overhead barbell press, and a lot more pull-ups and chin-ups. After getting some shoulder strength being able to do push-ups without shoulder-strain, I added them too. Also on alternate days from swimming when I lift weights, I stopped doing exercises that work the same muscles as swimming and instead concentrated on exercises that work the opposite or antagonists. So for example, I stopped doing pull-ups or dumbbell rows on weight training days, and instead would do them on the pool deck on swim days before swimming. This last change may or may not have made a difference - I'm frequently changing my routine trying to find what's best for me.
2) Changing my eating habits - eating more meals spaced throughout the day. Not all of them are really 'meals' - sometimes it's something as simple as a snack of sweet potatoes a couple hours after lunch (I go through a lot of them). It's a minor hassle in that I'm always fumbling around with gladware containers when getting ready for work.
3) Our coaches have organized our workouts differently starting last fall, and one or two days a week they have us concentrate on stroke and IM work.
And thanks, by the way.
My actual time still isn't all that great, it's just the time drop I'm pleased with. I expected I was only going to see tenths of a second improvements on 50s from here on out. I probably just wasn't working the specific muscles used in breaststroke enough with my previous weight training and swimming routines.
Here is what I have done differently the past few months.
1) Added the following exercises to my routine: front dumbbell raise, reverse flys, overhead barbell press, and a lot more pull-ups and chin-ups. After getting some shoulder strength being able to do push-ups without shoulder-strain, I added them too. Also on alternate days from swimming when I lift weights, I stopped doing exercises that work the same muscles as swimming and instead concentrated on exercises that work the opposite or antagonists. So for example, I stopped doing pull-ups or dumbbell rows on weight training days, and instead would do them on the pool deck on swim days before swimming. This last change may or may not have made a difference - I'm frequently changing my routine trying to find what's best for me.
2) Changing my eating habits - eating more meals spaced throughout the day. Not all of them are really 'meals' - sometimes it's something as simple as a snack of sweet potatoes a couple hours after lunch (I go through a lot of them). It's a minor hassle in that I'm always fumbling around with gladware containers when getting ready for work.
3) Our coaches have organized our workouts differently starting last fall, and one or two days a week they have us concentrate on stroke and IM work.
And thanks, by the way.
