The IM Lane

Just when you thought the 400 IMers were the craziest swimmers next to the 200 Flyers... Northern California is proud of their IM Swimmers. But especially proud of building their Medley Relays. YouTube- The Golden Gate Individual Medley :afraid:

thought I'd bump all the lanes to the front page to encourage folks to comment in their lanes

For proper pacing of a 400 IM, how should the 100 splits compare to the second half of the respective 200 stroke events? For example, should the back leg of the IM be slower than the second half of a properly-split 200 back? Ditto for the other strokes?

here's how I swim 400 IM's FL Easy speed, 3 or 4 SDKs, barely kick, breathe every stroke, stay smooth, go 5 or 6 seconds slower than best 100 FL Obviously he hasn't seen my IM's then... :afraid: I shoot for about 2 seconds slower than my best, but that's just me, and because my IM's are so Fly/Free dependent I have to swim it that way... I wish I could make my backstroke as good as it used to be, I know, practice practice practice... :bolt:

For proper pacing of a 400 IM, how should the 100 splits compare to the second half of the respective 200 stroke events? For example, should the back leg of the IM be slower than the second half of a properly-split 200 back? Ditto for the other strokes? I swim the fly leg of my 400 IM the same as the first 100 of my 200 fly. :agree: My back and *** splits are a bit slower than any parts of those respective 200's. :bed: (Maybe they shouldn't be, but they are.) :violin: Then I split the last 100 basically the same as the last 100 of a 400/500 freestyle. :applaud:

here's how I swim 400 IM's FL Easy speed, 3 or 4 SDKs, barely kick, breathe every stroke, stay smooth, go 5 or 6 seconds slower than best 100 FL BK easy speed, light kick, 3 or 4 SDKs, breathe often, take a couple extra breaths before the BK to BR turn, probably 3 or 4 seconds slower than my 2nd 100 of well split 200 bk, you need to feel pretty good at the 200 instead of being done and dying and yet having 200 left BK to BR turn flip it fast, nail it, push off hard, streamline skinny, glide far many swimmers do slow open turns and sneak extra breaths BR push off hard, glide far, do complete pull outs, go fast but be smooth and powerful, put more of a streamlined pause after each kick FR work it, I used to do it, 50 2 beat kick, 50 6 beat kick, but I now do and recommend a 6 beat kick the whole way. Just go as fast as you can and bring it home strong. younger skinny well conditioned swimmers swim a lot harder on their 400 IM's they do more SDKs off each wall (like 6 to 8) For proper pacing of a 400 IM, how should the 100 splits compare to the second half of the respective 200 stroke events? For example, should the back leg of the IM be slower than the second half of a properly-split 200 back? Ditto for the other strokes?

Here's my strategy for the 100 IM, which is the only one I've raced so far: Fly: Nail the dive, 2 or 3 SDKs, swim easy speed & low amplitude. Try to remember to breathe. Damn, it's over already? Back: Slip into a time warp and watch as the ceiling moves sloooowlllly by... Kick fast and small, stay compact on the turn. ***: Brief interlude into a happy, peaceful underwater place. Take the first pull and then drop the hammer. Fast hands, strong kick. Use stroke count as an indication of how well I'm doing. 7 or less = good. Free: Tight streamline, 1 or 2 ineffectual dolphin kicks, surface, and enter the pain cave. Kick like the devil, but keep amplitude low. Stay as smooth as possible, don't breathe inside the flags.

Here's my strategy for the 100 IM, which is the only one I've raced so far: Fly: Nail the dive, 2 or 3 SDKs, swim easy speed & low amplitude. Try to remember to breathe. Damn, it's over already? Back: Slip into a time warp and watch as the ceiling moves sloooowlllly by... Kick fast and small, stay compact on the turn. ***: Brief interlude into a happy, peaceful underwater place. Take the first pull and then drop the hammer. Fast hands, strong kick. Use stroke count as an indication of how well I'm doing. 7 or less = good. Free: Tight streamline, 1 or 2 ineffectual dolphin kicks, surface, and enter the pain cave. Kick like the devil, but keep amplitude low. Stay as smooth as possible, don't breathe inside the flags. Hey - that's just like mine, except 8 breaststrokes is good for me :)

Here's my strategy for the 100 IM, which is the only one I've raced so far: Fly: Nail the dive, 2 or 3 SDKs, swim easy speed & low amplitude. Try to remember to breathe. Damn, it's over already? Back: Slip into a time warp and watch as the ceiling moves sloooowlllly by... Kick fast and small, stay compact on the turn. ***: Brief interlude into a happy, peaceful underwater place. Take the first pull and then drop the hammer. Fast hands, strong kick. Use stroke count as an indication of how well I'm doing. 7 or less = good. Free: Tight streamline, 1 or 2 ineffectual dolphin kicks, surface, and enter the pain cave. Kick like the devil, but keep amplitude low. Stay as smooth as possible, don't breathe inside the flags. Sounds exactly like mine. I have to remind myself to breathe in backstroke. Counting strokes helps make it to by quicker. I have learned I am faster turning over my BR a little faster in the IM, so 8 is about right for me too. I'm swimming one next weekend -- hoping to go under 1:10.

Hey - that's just like mine, except 8 breaststrokes is good for me :) Hey 'Fly, just curious... What's your 50yd. breaststroke time keeping it at 8 strokes? I'm trying to get my stroke count down, but my time is slower when I do. Riding the glide and keeping as streamline as possible has been something I've been working on, but it has been a battle to lower my time with my lower stroke count. :bitching: