Sprint the first 50, and then hold on for dear life. :-)
In actuality, the 3 x 500 is a good strategy. You want the first 500 to feel easy. Some coaches would say "stupid easy", like you could swim that pace all day long and never get tired.
Are you working with a coach? If you're working with a coach, you could come up with target pacing per 100, and then if you're able to have someone on the sidelines try to help you signal based on your pace projection for too fast, too slow, or just right. The big thing that people often have trouble with is how a pace feels in practice vs. how it feels at a meet, when you've got much more adrenaline running.
Often, you'll want to be toning down the first part of the of the race, so you can come home strong.
And no matter what happens, try to build the last 500 to finish strong.
-Rick
Sprint the first 50, and then hold on for dear life. :-)
In actuality, the 3 x 500 is a good strategy. You want the first 500 to feel easy. Some coaches would say "stupid easy", like you could swim that pace all day long and never get tired.
Are you working with a coach? If you're working with a coach, you could come up with target pacing per 100, and then if you're able to have someone on the sidelines try to help you signal based on your pace projection for too fast, too slow, or just right. The big thing that people often have trouble with is how a pace feels in practice vs. how it feels at a meet, when you've got much more adrenaline running.
Often, you'll want to be toning down the first part of the of the race, so you can come home strong.
And no matter what happens, try to build the last 500 to finish strong.
-Rick
