The Middle Distance Lane

After my swim this morning I have decided on the go out fast and hold on theory for my upcoming 500. Thinking way back I actually did this unintentionally the day I set my PR for the 400. It also brought back the pain and suffering it took to get there, and I now have 6+ minutes of pain to look forward to on Saturday rather than 5+. Just needed to get that out where people might understand.... Also if there's anyone here going to the DAM meet at the weekend and can count to 20 for me (or even count 20 down to 0), it'd be much appreciated. I can count when not swimming - even to 66 :)

After my swim this morning I have decided on the go out fast and hold on theory for my upcoming 500. Thinking way back I actually did this unintentionally the day I set my PR for the 400. It also brought back the pain and suffering it took to get there, and I now have 6+ minutes of pain to look forward to on Saturday rather than 5+. It's been a lot of years, but I clearly remember that my best swims in the 500 came when I took the first 100 out at a pace that felt almost ridiculously slow, and held the last 4 100s at almost exactly the same pace. My arms would really start burning at about lap 13. This is the point where I would try to pick up the pace, but in reality I was just countering my natural slowing down. 'did one in practice about a month ago with this strategy and knocked about 20s off my previous best in practice from the past few years. Good luck with the 500. Let us know how it goes.

If you do it right, you still may only have 5+ minutes of pain and suffering! I like the "go out fast and hold on technique" as well. If my training is all there, it'll come. If not I'll still die anyway, so I just figure Go For It! :lolup: Like sub 6 mins is going to happen this week - I think not, although it'd be cool if it did. PR of 5.15 for 400 SCM is equivalent to just under the 6 min mark, and I don't think I'm quite there yet! I'll be going to the DAM meet too! But I'm not really sure that it's the same meet you're talking about. I'll be in Courd A'Lane, Idaho!! :bolt: It'd be a long way for you to see to count - I'll be in Dallas, Tx (Dallas Aquatic Masters), but good luck with it :)

I did distance in H S & college. I'm still good at it but, I like to do other swims now. Me too, but I'm still doing them. I'm focusing on the 200 & 500 (400 LCM) and just "swim up" and do the 1000 (well, I did at SC Nats last Spring and will this Spring). The 500 is probably my favorite race and is best suited for me.

It's been a lot of years, but I clearly remember that my best swims in the 500 came when I took the first 100 out at a pace that felt almost ridiculously slow, and held the last 4 100s at almost exactly the same pace. My arms would really start burning at about lap 13. This is the point where I would try to pick up the pace, but in reality I was just countering my natural slowing down. 'did one in practice about a month ago with this strategy and knocked about 20s off my previous best in practice from the past few years. Good luck with the 500. Let us know how it goes. Key to the 500 is to be able to be out fast, but an "easy" fast. That is where all the training comes in. Its a fine line to walk between being out too fast (and dying the last 200) or being left behind to play catch up the whole race. My best 500's I was always just a couple seconds off my best 200 at the 200 split.

Key to the 500 is to be able to be out fast, but an "easy" fast. That is where all the training comes in. Its a fine line to walk between being out too fast (and dying the last 200) or being left behind to play catch up the whole race. My best 500's I was always just a couple seconds off my best 200 at the 200 split. Thanks for the advice everyone. Yesterday I swam 2 500s - first one I took out steady and built the whole way through, the second I swam out hard and hung on and came in 2 secs faster. While 2 secs in training isn't much to shout about, it was the 2nd one of the day and it felt like a 400 used to. I think I need to swim out hard but control my stroke length on the first 100-200 to get to that "easy" fast point. I still have tomorrow to try the strategy out:D

I did distance in H S & college. I'm still good at it but, I like to do other swims now.

Good luck with the 500. Let us know how it goes. So as you asked......I finished in 6.16, I had entered a time of 6.15 and hoped to do around 6.10. However I can't be disappointed as: 1. I based the entry time (and hopeful time) on the 400m time I did when my oldest was 9 months old. At that point I was 5 lbs lighter/thinner and was being coached. 2. It was my very first 500yd and it is very different from a 400m 3. The meet ran fast and I had already done a good 50 fly and 100 free (equalled my PRs) 4. The pool was a little on the warm side and shallow Still the meet was a lot of fun - 5 solid swims on the Saturday and 10 hilarious ones on the Sunday. I got a couple of compliments on my fly too, so I'm now on to "Project 200 fly" :afraid:

So as you asked......I finished in 6.16, I had entered a time of 6.15 and hoped to do around 6.10. However I can't be disappointed as: ...Still the meet was a lot of fun - 5 solid swims on the Saturday and 10 hilarious ones on the Sunday. I got a couple of compliments on my fly too, so I'm now on to "Project 200 fly" :afraid: 'sounds like you had a very good meet. Excellent job guessing your entry time in the 500 too! First time ever... that's a solid swim. I'm curious, did you use a 2-beat or 6-beat kick, or some combination?

'sounds like you had a very good meet. Excellent job guessing your entry time in the 500 too! First time ever... that's a solid swim. I'm curious, did you use a 2-beat or 6-beat kick, or some combination? I am Mrs Very-Lazy-Kicker and don't pay nearly as much attention to my legs as I should:afraid:. I use a 2 beat kick for the majority of the race, then pick it up to 4 or 6 or whatever my legs do when I kick harder through the last 100.