Freestyle sprinting

Do most of the in-swimming-shape and experienced swimmers among you go all out for a whole 50 yards or is there some pacing? In other words are you going top speed the whole time? The reason I'm asking is that right now I can do 25 yards from a standstill in 13 seconds, but my best 50 yard time from a standstill is 33 seconds. (I'm a horrible diver at this point, but once I get my stroke in order I'll start working on that). Anyhow, is it reasonable for me to shoot for a 26 second 50 by just improving my endurance and flip turns, or is it like comparing 50's and 100's where a 50 time will always be less than half a hundred. Thanks for your thoughts. I don't do a lot of sprinting, but once in a while give it a few shots just to see where I am. Unfortunately I'm unable to do a master's class because I work in shifts and would miss half of them, so I'm pretty much on my own trying to get better. :badday:
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    100% is not semantics. You (or anybody else for that matter) can't expend 100% for longer than a few or more seconds, much less than 26. Elite runners save some in the 100. The goal is to maintain speed at the finish, not drop off. To accomplish this they must hold back just a bit. That is why the 100 is an interesting race. It is just a bit longer than a human can hold a 100% effort. To tell someont to go ALL OUT for a 26 second race isn't good advice. Hence the 13 second first lap coupled with the agonizing 20 second, second lap. That is a pretty tough way to swim a race. Pace yourself. You'll have a faster time, and it won't be so miserable.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    100% is not semantics. You (or anybody else for that matter) can't expend 100% for longer than a few or more seconds, much less than 26. Elite runners save some in the 100. The goal is to maintain speed at the finish, not drop off. To accomplish this they must hold back just a bit. That is why the 100 is an interesting race. It is just a bit longer than a human can hold a 100% effort. To tell someont to go ALL OUT for a 26 second race isn't good advice. Hence the 13 second first lap coupled with the agonizing 20 second, second lap. That is a pretty tough way to swim a race. Pace yourself. You'll have a faster time, and it won't be so miserable.
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