So I have decided to focus on the 1500/1650, partly because I seem to have misplaced the three fast twitch fibers I once owned, and partly because guys named Smith are now swimming the 500 and even the 1000. Geek suggested that I build my endurance with dryland work, but unlike him I have a job and limited time to train, and I don't really want to give up pool time. Any suggestions?
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I'm not trying to devalue race-pace training; the benefits Maglischo cites are very real. However, I have heard too many people dismiss or downplay the value of a set like 8 x 100 on 2 min simply because you cannot quite achieve race pace in it.
I can for sure agree with that -- I think a good season should basically have a progression of race pace sets. This season, I am looking for a good 100 and 200 combo - in that order. Last year, I only focused on speed work and my 200 time was rather poor (but if you only want a fast 100, that would be all you need)- so this season, I am taking a more traditional season approach.
I can really only swim 2 hard workouts per week - the other workouts have some fast swims but not any all out main sets + I am doing 2 resistance speed work sets - which kick my behind like nothing else...
So I did:
3 weeks of Mile pace sets
3 weeks of 800 pace sets
3 weeks of 400 pace sets
3 weeks of 200 pace sets (that's right now)
3 weeks of 100 pace
3 weeks of pure speed
I really should have had 4-6 weeks of aerobic threshold work before - but I did not have the time (3 seasons a year is too many !!!!). At the meet ten days ago, my mile was just ok - but I had a really strong in season 400. Which makes sense - we shall see how the rest goes ...
I'm not trying to devalue race-pace training; the benefits Maglischo cites are very real. However, I have heard too many people dismiss or downplay the value of a set like 8 x 100 on 2 min simply because you cannot quite achieve race pace in it.
I can for sure agree with that -- I think a good season should basically have a progression of race pace sets. This season, I am looking for a good 100 and 200 combo - in that order. Last year, I only focused on speed work and my 200 time was rather poor (but if you only want a fast 100, that would be all you need)- so this season, I am taking a more traditional season approach.
I can really only swim 2 hard workouts per week - the other workouts have some fast swims but not any all out main sets + I am doing 2 resistance speed work sets - which kick my behind like nothing else...
So I did:
3 weeks of Mile pace sets
3 weeks of 800 pace sets
3 weeks of 400 pace sets
3 weeks of 200 pace sets (that's right now)
3 weeks of 100 pace
3 weeks of pure speed
I really should have had 4-6 weeks of aerobic threshold work before - but I did not have the time (3 seasons a year is too many !!!!). At the meet ten days ago, my mile was just ok - but I had a really strong in season 400. Which makes sense - we shall see how the rest goes ...
