I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
Next time you find yourself frowning on the sprinter folks, try this little set:
10x50 stroke of your choice on 2:00 interval - goal on each is best time +5s (from a push) or best time +2s from a dive. Have fun and let me know how you did.
:joker: I swam almost this exact set a couple weeks ago. It might have only been 8x50 fly though rather than 10 (I'm not sure), and the interval was definitely 1:30 rather than 2:00. For reference, my best Masters 50y fly time is 26.40. From pushoffs, I started out doing 31's, but eventually drifted down to 30's. Easy peasy. Readers of The Butterfly Lane are probably wondering why I was doing such a simple set. The focus swim of my workout that day was the all-out 400 IM that I swam just prior to doing those 50's. That's why. :rofl:
Next time you find yourself frowning on the sprinter folks, try this little set:
10x50 stroke of your choice on 2:00 interval - goal on each is best time +5s (from a push) or best time +2s from a dive. Have fun and let me know how you did.
:joker: I swam almost this exact set a couple weeks ago. It might have only been 8x50 fly though rather than 10 (I'm not sure), and the interval was definitely 1:30 rather than 2:00. For reference, my best Masters 50y fly time is 26.40. From pushoffs, I started out doing 31's, but eventually drifted down to 30's. Easy peasy. Readers of The Butterfly Lane are probably wondering why I was doing such a simple set. The focus swim of my workout that day was the all-out 400 IM that I swam just prior to doing those 50's. That's why. :rofl:
