When I last seriously competed almost 5 years ago now, I would attend meets with multiple sessions and do 1 event from each or maybe 2 events - 1 at the start and 1 at the end of the session. I was more a distancer, so over the course of the weekend, would swim 800 free, 400 free, 200 free, 200 IM, 100 fly, or something similar.
Fast forward to this summer where I have raced almost every weekend for the last 6 weeks, doing 2 shorter events each time and the meets last up to 6 hours.
Next week we have the regionals where they estimate that the first session will be over in 3 hours and I have entered 4 events: 50 fly, 100 free, 100IM, 200 free (in that order).
So my question is - how on earth do I recover in between? - particularly from the IM to the 200 free, where there will definitely be a short gap, perhaps only 15 mins :badday:.
Also if you have any tips on how to prepare beforehand, what's best to eat etc? I'll [lan to hydrate as much as possible as I found that helped my distance swims in the past.
I'm beginning to feel too old for this:cane:
I'm just echoing some of the suggestions here, but in a nutshell, I'd hydrate, take carbs, and most importantly warm down between each event no matter how little rest- you'll need to get the acid out. Of the 15min you have before the 200 free, I'd warm down for 5 of that and rest 10 before the race. Warming down after your other events should also help you recover. Good luck.
Unlike some here - I think the event list is a tough one for 2.5 hours. 100 IM followed by 200 free would be tough just 15 minutes apart. 50 fly followed by 100 free should not be tough because the 50 will be easy to recover from.
I find a 100 IM race to be fun but much more tiring than a single stroke 100. 15 minutes after a 100 IM my heart rate would still be elevated and I would not be breathing normally.
The good news though is that 200 free is last. It is the last event and you can swim your guts out knowing you are done.
I would probably consume an energy gel 20 minutes before the IM. It won't really help the IM, but it is just the right amount of time before the 200 free. I don't think there is any scientific data to show that taking protein has any value in this. The protein intake recommendations are all about providing what your muscles need to rebuild themselves after being torn down. That won't happen in the time between races.
Otherwise I agree with most of what is said above. Warmdown well. Go into the 200 free fearless, regardless of what you feel like after the IM.
Well just to let you all know that I did indeed swim all 4 events within approx 2.5 hours of each other, and lived to tell albeit rather sore. The first 3 went well, and were all about .5 sec per length slower than my all time bests :banana: not bad for about 9 weeks serious training since ermmm I can't really remember when!
The 200 free hurt and I felt drained going in, but it was still only 5 sec slower than my time of 5 years ago.
Considering the water was warm, the warm down facilities were minimal and full of kids, and the car registered 102F when we left, I don't think I did too badly at all.
And as my daughter came third in her back and free, she has made the State meet :applaud:, which means I get to do it all again in 2 weeks too.
(except I'm not swimming the 200 free - it just got too hot to swim it well)
Congratulations! Sounds like a successful meet for you and your daughter.
A bunch of us survived an outdoor meet this weekend too. I did 400 free, 100 and 50 free and topped it off with the 400 IM all in less than 4 hours in 90+ degree heat and the pool temp at the end was over 86. I went to practice today and I was sore but managed to work out the kinks, luckily.
We had an SCM pentathlon a couple years ago where the combo of 200 stroke events and the 400 IM was called the Animal. Participants were also encouraged to try the Brute, where you swim the 1500, 200 fly, and 400 IM on the same day. So I thought why not do both - enter the 1500 free, 200 back, 200 ***, 200 fly, and 400 IM and use the first 200 of the 1500 as the 200 free portion of the Animal. I sent the meet director an email asking if someone who completed that scenario could be listed as an unofficial entry in the Animal standings, not eligible for any of the prizes but listed nonetheless. I received a reply that of course, no sort of anything could ever be considered under any circumstances, have a nice day. So I didn't enter those events (well I did swim the 200 back). But the Brute Animal Challenge is nonetheless extended to some masochistic individual... :roids:
I have a friend that does this at all long course meets, nuts! At one meet, the 800free was first and he did IM first 400 then did reverse IM the last 400! Then he followed that up with all the 200 events.
You need to come out to PA and try the Pentathalon meet. They have 3 different types, the hardest being the "Ironman", which consists of , in this order:
400 IM
200 ***
200 Back
200 Fly
200 Free
All in about 3 hours or so. Tom Patterson (tjrpatt) and I have done it. NOT pleasant.
:bow::bow::bow::bow:
Is all I have to say to you guys! I'm so used to the UK nationals, being the major distance meet for me in the past spread over a weekend. That's 6 or 7 sessions with the 1500 free one day, 800 another and 400 another and the 400IM would be in a different session than the distance free events.... seems like we're a load of wimps!
I am determined to do a 400IM in competition one day though as I've never done one, but it'll be sometime when I'm fitter. I have never ever competed in the 200 back or 200 *** and right now have absolutely no intention of putting myself through that agony. I'd sooner get my 200 fly back together.:afraid:
Anyway I was back in the pool this morning, which helped the sore shoulders:cane:
