It's my first time swimming it, and the most fly i've done is 100, and that was only twice.
Any advice would be appreciated
Oh, my shoulders have been bothering me at practice, mostly during free or backstroke. On the rotator cuff on my left arm, the top of the shoulders on both harms and on the sides. Would icing and heating be sufficient? or icy hot possibly?
Thanks!
Former Member
I went a 2:50, which isn't what I was hoping for, but the least I can say is that I finished.
I went like a 1:15 on the first 100, then sort of died halfway through the third 50.
yep, fly = pain and suffering. Sure, if I was getting paid to swim fly totally would ... otherwise, why? Seriously though it's all rhythm, which I could never catch, I always drown when I try. For those that can, maybe stick with IM's? Different strokes so the shoulder doesn't poke.
I went a 2:50, which isn't what I was hoping for, but the least I can say is that I finished.
I went like a 1:15 on the first 100, then sort of died halfway through the third 50.
Well you finished, which is an achievement in itself :applaud:, and you know to pace it better for next time - if there is a next time.
As for me - I'm with the PP and sticking to IMs when not swimming freestyle.
Preparation is the key to doing a good 200 fly. If, in practice, you do something that nobody else will even contemplate, then you will succeed. You must do lots of fly in training. View it as just another stroke.
When I was 55 I did more fly in training than anyone else. (Probably in the world!). This prepared me mentally for the 8-length swim. When everyone else in the session did 20 x 100m front crawl, I tagged on at the back of the lane doing butterfly. After three months of doing this I was near the front of the lane and surprised at how slow the freestylers were swimming.
I've still got my log books, and looking back, I see that some sessions included 5 x 500m, 100 x 25m and 30 x 100m; all on butterfly. Sometimes I was covering almost 10,000m a day, with about 7,000m of this on butterfly.
Don't listen to the 'dream-busters' who will tell you there's no need to cover such distances. What they are really saying is, "I can't do it myself." In reality, they have never tried, so how can they possibly know what benefits there are to be gained? My best 200 metres short course at the age of 55 was 2:35.23. I did this in a time-trial at the club. My best 200 metres in competition was 2:37.95.
How to swim the race: You must remember that fitness is accumulative. The fitter you become - the faster you will be able to take out a race. If you become very fit on butterfly then (If you swim comfortably) your first 100 should be about 4 seconds slower than your best 100 time - and you won't even be out of breath! It's amazing, when swimming fly, just how fast you can swim when just trying to keep the stroke smooth. You will only experience this wonderful sensation when you are super fit on the stroke. If you find butterfly hard-going then I would suggest you are not doing enough work on this stroke in practice.
It is worth persevering. Butterfly, when swum correctly is the most beautiful stroke.
As for the RC injury, unfortunately, you need to rest it.
God luck with the swim. Try to 'glide' through the first 150 and all will be fine.
I don't like the swim fast till you die concept. Pace is used in all races & this is a 200 that should be well thought out - not go till you flame out and the guard pulls you to the finish .
