Breaking 1:00 in the 100 free SCY for the 1st time

I always feel like I swim better with a good warmup, but I'm not really sure I couldn't just get in and start swimming. I usually do this for open water swims, for example, and have no problems getting going.

Well, it was just my own theory and might very well be completely wrong. Yet I would ask what evidence you have to the contrary (races with minimal warm-ups with race times)? We are creatures of habit yet many of the practices that were once assumed to be truth were later proved wrong. I know I have seen some elite Masters swimmers race great times with minimal warm-ups. The great thing about Masters is that we can do what we want. I think we know our own bodies and what will work for us. My workouts could very well vary to my benefit and increase dramatically in volume (if I had the time). If I was conditioned at a different level perhaps I would need a different warm-up.

@ Herb Enjoy... BTW good luck getting under a minute. journals.lww.com/.../Effects_of_Warming_up_on_Physical_Performance__A.21.aspx "Warm-up was shown to improve performance in 79% of the criterions examined." And a bunch more: journals.lww.com/.../results.aspx There are many more out there just do a search...

...and while knowing your body is one thing and working out to ones limits is important. Throwing out traditional and proven training techniques shows a level of arrogance and inexperience. I would suggest a good coach in helping you reach your goals.

Throwing out traditional and proven training techniques shows a level of arrogance and inexperience. This way of thinking won't get anybody anywhere.

Maybe I'm not warmig up enough, I usually do 25 for my 50

"warm-up was effective in 79% of the criterions examined". That seems to mean that 21% are wasting their time. That is more evidence to support my point than I would have even expected, although I would be more interested in swimming data. Even I do warm up and I would tend do a little more for a sprint, at least a couple of short sprints so my body isn't going from rest to all-out. But if I thought there was any chance that swimming 2000 yards of warm-up was going to help me drop 2 seconds in the 100 free believe me I would be all over it. But I accept the fact that I am an idiot and completely wrong. Just throwing things out there and having fun so don't get too upset about it.

I first broke a minute about 52 years ago and the last time I did it was over 40 years ago. But now life has once again allowed me to get back in the pool on a regular basis and I'm loving it. Can only handle about 1200 yards/workout about 3 times/week over the last couple months and my best workout 100 was about 1:23 (from a push, grab turns, floppy cotton surf trunks), but my goal is to break a minute by the end of summer. After reading these very informative posts I guess my typical warmup of driving to the pool with the heater on will have to be ramped up. And the cool down is a totally new idea --- sounds like it should help lessen the next day pain and soreness. Thanks all.

I'm trying to break 1:00 in 100scm as a masters swimmer. My best time when active was 52.2 yds so that is roughly 58.0 scm. so I am by no means a freestyler. of all the events I swim now compared to then, the 50 and 100 free are closest. my best 50fr outside a relay was 24.4 --> roughly 27.0. My goals for freestyle as a Masters swimmer under 1:00 currently 1:00.9 under 27:0 currently 27.68 my problem is that when I try to swim faster in these short events, I swim significantly less effecient, my amrs just move faster through the water, but I don't go forward faster. The last time I swam a 200scm I opened 1:01.8 less than one second from my "max", but I was laid back, just pushing through the water with control. all of my splits for that race were 29.44, 32.36, 33.72, 35.43 obviously I died in the last 50, but for me a less than a second difference is good. I find it hard to be a decent freestyler if you train for *** and IM, but I don't like going to a meet and only swimming 2-3 events/day.

my problem is that when I try to swim faster in these short events, I swim significantly less effecient, my amrs just move faster through the water, but I don't go forward faster. The last time I swam a 200scm I opened 1:01.8 less than one second from my "max", but I was laid back, just pushing through the water with control. . I call that panic swimming and I do it often, too. I work with my coach a lot to not panic swim in practice so that I can relax more in a meet. It helped my last 1000 where I took 4 sec off the time and was totally relaxed the first 500.