This has been something I've wondered the last few years. I used to be a college swimmer, fit and trim, but the 10 years since then I've drank my fair share of beer and ate plenty of cheeseburgers. Just curious what peoples' take is on how much the extra baggage really effects swim races.
I don't really fit the swimmer mold anymore. I'm 31, 6'2", and 270lbs with a huge beer gut. I got some strange looks since the meet i was in recently was a USAS meet and I outweighed my competition by 100lbs in many cases. My first race in about 5 years i went 23.4 in the 50y free. I didn't expect to be that fast at this weight but at the same time I almost wonder if the added intertia is helping me more on the start and turns. Followed it up with a low 52 in the 100y free but I had a horrible reaction on the start and incorrect pacing. I think if i raced again today that'd be deep in the 51 range. For reference, typical non-taper times for me in college were in the low-mid 22 range at just a tick over 200lbs but I was obviously a lot stronger, younger, and doing a TON more yards at the time, that's why it makes me wonder just how much the weight is actually holding me back.
How much time do you think I stand to drop if i were 50lbs lighter? Could it be a measurable difference or something just slight? I guess I ask that to see if it'd be worth my while to drop that much weight quickly by dieting in addition to the swimming i'm doing. I don't really like dieting, and i generally eat what I want, when i want. Not gorging myself at every meal doesn't really seem to fit into my lifestyle :blush: Anyone have a similar story? "I dropped XX lbs and went XX seconds faster because of it."
Maybe it's an immeasurable, but I thought I'd ask for opinion anyway. I'm hoping it doesn't turn into a "to diet or not to diet" discussion though.
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I would say that is pretty damn good!:applaud: I'm a "big guy" as well. I used to be 165 lb and a distance guy in college, now I'm just a 39-year old (40 in June) thats about 220-225ish. I would say that while weight is a big factor for me, its only part of the equation. Like you, I would say that for a guy my size I can get up and go pretty good. I'm more a mid-dist guy these days. I can do the sprints, but I'm not a "sprinter". 200-500 is where its at for me.
My "hope" is to be down in the 200-210 range by summer.
I'm kinda the opposite. The drag racer of the swimming world. Only I have a heavy big block and a large frame chassis :) My 3 events would be the 12.5, 25,and 50 free if they were all available :angel:
I try not to set weight goals anymore because I've failed so many times at them. The current approach is working for me, slowly but surely at about a pound a week or so if I dont lose cheeseburger battles.
I'm gonna dabble in the 200 free at my next meet. I seeded 2:00 flat with the expectation I'll be under that. Its a good starting point for a race i grew to hate years ago :)
I would say that is pretty damn good!:applaud: I'm a "big guy" as well. I used to be 165 lb and a distance guy in college, now I'm just a 39-year old (40 in June) thats about 220-225ish. I would say that while weight is a big factor for me, its only part of the equation. Like you, I would say that for a guy my size I can get up and go pretty good. I'm more a mid-dist guy these days. I can do the sprints, but I'm not a "sprinter". 200-500 is where its at for me.
My "hope" is to be down in the 200-210 range by summer.
I'm kinda the opposite. The drag racer of the swimming world. Only I have a heavy big block and a large frame chassis :) My 3 events would be the 12.5, 25,and 50 free if they were all available :angel:
I try not to set weight goals anymore because I've failed so many times at them. The current approach is working for me, slowly but surely at about a pound a week or so if I dont lose cheeseburger battles.
I'm gonna dabble in the 200 free at my next meet. I seeded 2:00 flat with the expectation I'll be under that. Its a good starting point for a race i grew to hate years ago :)
