Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Former Member — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:43:46 GMT

A thread that provided Rich with ideas for his sprint training plan. There are several gems in the thread, and it is short so it is worth reading through. Speed Zone - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Former Member — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:16:12 GMT

Earlier this year I spent $40 on a SportCount Chrono 100, a little stopwatch you wear on your index finger like a ring. It's great for timing sprints and interval sets. It records times to 1/100th, and remembers up to 100 intervals. I've been using it mostly to time all-out 25s underwater SDK and 25s backstroke, to improve my 50 back. So far, so good -- my time dropped 0.74 in about 4 months. I really like my little watch. Swimosaur, I have come across that gadget a 100 times and never noticed that they had any version other than the lap counter. They need to think about shooting some new pictures of the stopwatch and the chrono. How big is it? Would you use it on a AFAP 100 from a push? From the blocks? I like the idea of the poolmate better, but the sportcount might be better in practice.

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Former Member — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:49:42 GMT

Thank you Swimosaur. I didn't know the poolmate didn't keep track of sub second times, that kinda kills it. The Chrono 100 on the other hand looks like a very useful.

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Swimosaur — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 04:38:28 GMT

Swimosaur, I have come across that gadget a 100 times and never noticed that they had any version other than the lap counter. They need to think about shooting some new pictures of the stopwatch and the chrono. How big is it? Would you use it on a AFAP 100 from a push? From the blocks? I like the idea of the poolmate better, but the sportcount might be better in practice. qbrain, SportCount sells several models. Some are lap counters only. Some are interval timers which don't remember individual laps but do report the fast, slow, and average time per lap. Of course I don't think any of these would be useful, which is why I gave the specific model. The "Chrono 100" remembers up to 100 individual intervals, each timed to 1/100th of a second. How big is it? The attached photos show (1) The face of the timer, showing a time of 1:23.39 For scale, there's a quarter on the left side of the photo, unfortunately rather washed out in flash glare. (2) The watch as I wear it in practice, distally on my right index finger, rotated so my thumb can easily find the button. The rubber strap affixes the watch very well, so even when I'm swimming backstroke AFAP, it doesn't fly off my finger. Would you use it on a AFAP 100 from a push? Absolutely I would. In fact, that's the sort of thing I use it for all the time -- 25s, 50s, and 100s, any stroke, kicking, shooters, you name it. Since my right thumb is always free on a push, I have a consistent method for starting the clock. From the blocks? I've never used it from the blocks, but I can't see that there would be too much of a problem. You just have to come up with some sort of consistent method for starting the clock, given that your right hand is a little busy grabbing the block. On Poolmate ... I had a Poolmate watch a year ago for a short time. Poolmate may work very well for many or even most swimmers, but it did not work well for me. My biggest problems were first, the seconds display and lap count display are very small, and were nearly impossible to see with my old eyes; second, the watch does not display or record tenths or hundredths; third, two-handed operation is for me more awkward than one-handed (points 2 and 3 limit watch's usefulness for timing sprints); and fourth, the algorithm for counting lengths required that you take seven strokes with the watch-bearing arm before it counted a length. I often take fewer than seven strokes per length in a 25 SCY pool, so for me it miscounted a lot. I agree that the Poolmate is a neat idea, particularly if you want something to count laps for you while you're swimming a continuous 1650 or 3000 or something. I don't do that very often, so when I do, I'm willing to rely on my own possibly faulty counting. For timing sprints, I definitely prefer the SportCount.

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Swimosaur — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:37:40 GMT

Wish I had someone to run a stopwatch for me during sprint sets. All i have is the paceclock. :( Earlier this year I spent $40 on a SportCount Chrono 100, a little stopwatch you wear on your index finger like a ring. It's great for timing sprints and interval sets. It records times to 1/100th, and remembers up to 100 intervals. I've been using it mostly to time all-out 25s underwater SDK and 25s backstroke, to improve my 50 back. So far, so good -- my time dropped 0.74 in about 4 months. I really like my little watch.

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

Former Member — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:31:03 GMT

Sounds like a good regimen. Wish I had someone to run a stopwatch for me during sprint sets. All i have is the paceclock. :(

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

orca1946 — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:50:24 GMT

All that & God given talent makes him a force to try to be beaten. I know because he is in my age group.

RE: Sprint training methods used by Rich Abrahams

ande — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:09:40 GMT

Rich's done a great job with his training He's fast because of who his is and how he trains. His 22.1 & 49.4 scy records in M 65 - 69 are likely to be on the books for quite a while, maybe Rowdy might have a shot at breaking them 14 years from now. here's Tip 161 Everybody wants to be Rich Rich Abrahams Atlanta 2010