I've been working really hard on my 100 IM. I'm a relatively new swimmer and want to improve my times as much as possible before my first ever swim meet this February.
My (perceived) biggest problem in the 100 IM is getting comfortable on the breaststroke leg. After two SDK to start the fly and back I do feel i get my breath under control by the end of the backstroke, but really struggle to get a nice pull out. Sometimes, I even abandoned the pull out and surface straight into the stroke. Then, once I get into the stroke, I feel like I am breathing too often, but not getting any air - almost like hyperventilating.
Does this mean I am going out too hard on fly and/or back. Any drills, sets, focuses to work on to help this? Thanks for any suggestions.
Make sure you are exhalling fully on each breath, especially the breaststroke leg. If I don't concentrate on this on a 100 IM I'm totally out of breath going into the freestyle leg.
Make sure you are exhalling fully on each breath, especially the breaststroke leg. If I don't concentrate on this on a 100 IM I'm totally out of breath going into the freestyle leg.
I think it's also important to mention that the exhale should occur underwater. I've made that mistake in breaststroke before and it is sort of like hyperventilation when you have to exhale and inhale very quickly. I think this topic has come up in freestyle threads before too. And now, by popular demand, random smilies: :cake::worms::cheerleader::bed::banana:
Although I agree with Ande - get in better shape, you may also be over swimming the race in fly and/or back. You might be able to dial back a bit in fly, lose .5 seconds, and gain back more than that in *** with a stronger pullout. I found some time ago that I couldn't just blast the 100 IM right of the start. I think the 100 IM is a more demanding race than 100 free, and almost no one swims the 100 free 100% from the start. If your legs are dead on breaststroke, you probably swam too fast on fly/back.
Is it possible your problem is breathing on backstroke? Since your face is out of the water you might be tempted to not breathe rhythmically, but you still should. Concentrate on breathing in whenever your left arm comes out of the water or something along those lines.
Does this mean I am going out too hard on fly and/or back
Probably not. You can't take a 100 IM out too fast. It's a sprint.
Keep training hard & get in better shape
Keep working on your IMs.
How do you want to race your 100 IM?
Do it the same way in practice
You should NEVER shorten up your breastroke pull out in a race
It's just a 100, it's going to hurt.
Be well conditioned, physically strong and mentally tough.
I've been working really hard on my 100 IM. I'm a relatively new swimmer and want to improve my times as much as possible before my first ever swim meet this February.
My (perceived) biggest problem in the 100 IM is getting comfortable on the breaststroke leg. After two SDK to start the fly and back I do feel i get my breath under control by the end of the backstroke, but really struggle to get a nice pull out. Sometimes, I even abandoned the pull out and surface straight into the stroke. Then, once I get into the stroke, I feel like I am breathing too often, but not getting any air - almost like hyperventilating.
Does this mean I am going out too hard on fly and/or back. Any drills, sets, focuses to work on to help this? Thanks for any suggestions.
Thanks for all the advice, some replies below
I'm a slow swimmer.
Here was a set from a workout I did earlier this week.
16 x 50 (25 fast stroke, 25 EZ free)
1-4 Fly, :18, :17, :17, :17
5-8 Back, :20, :20, :19, :19
9-12 ***, :21, :21, :20, :19
12-16 Free, :16, :15, :15, :15
My best 100 SCY IM is 1:18 over summer, today I did 1:22 on much less training.
I am pretty sure a breathe regularly on back stroke, but I'll pay closer attention tomorrow.
I do know my exhale occurs underwater on fly, free and ***.
Hard to say which is my weakest stroke, all four? I'll let you guys look at my sprint times and decide for me.
Speaking as someone whose back & *** times have been very similar until something clicked only a few months ago, you might find this helpful....or not....
I consider back my weakest stroke and like you on the IM I would be short on breath on the *** pull out due to the panicked, thrashing nature of my backstroke, and then lose the plot on ***, which is my 3rd stroke anyway!
Weird as it may sound working on my backstroke actually "improved" my breaststroke leg. Really kicking hard and getting into a good breathing and armstroke pattern meant that I actually knew how many strokes it would take to do the back length, so I could prepare for a big breath in before starting the ***. Then once you get a good pull out you're in your rhythm.
Always go out fast, my theory is that no matter how shattered you are at 75, you always have enough left for 1 length free.
FTR I do a 1.12, so I'm not super fast either.
