The Butterfly Lane

:2cents: Sorry, had to do it. HAHA

Just to let you know, I talked to my coach about it and she said that my fly has drastically improved in the last month and that it is great. She did meantion however that I still dont engage my hips enough and that when I get that down, swimming fly, will be easier and faster, and much easier to fly in fly when tired as well.

I have just swum ( survived is more accurate) a 100 LCM Fly !!!!! Woo Hoo :bouncing:

I have just swum ( survived is more accurate) a 100 LCM Fly !!!!! Woo Hoo :bouncing: Good Job!! Are you planning on doing the 200 Fly LCM as well?

200 LCM is my objective for end January 2012 but I am struggling mentally and physically about how to get there - so any suggestions on strategy and training for middle aged fat ladies would be welcomed On the 100m I had to glide like anything to survive it, and was such a wreck by the end that I needed to be hoisted out. I have no doubt that if it had been in a 25m pool then I would have given up at one of the turns. Sadly the next time I will get a go in a 50m pool will be at the event itself Accordingly I wonder if the better gameplan is to try and focus on the 100m and get it to the very best I can for January and do it well - then I may be able to step up to the 200 All views most welcomed ( taking into account my middle aged - fat position status etc)

200 LCM is my objective for end January 2012 but I am struggling mentally and physically about how to get there - so any suggestions on strategy and training for middle aged fat ladies would be welcomed Do lots of fly in practice. Swim 200s (or 225yds) kick and drill, keep it steady and get used to swimming fly-something for that long. I gradually built up my fly distance over 3 months, so the first couple of weeks my workouts included 2 lots of 4 x 50 fly, on 1.15 I think. Then I went up to 4 x 75s on 1.45 or similar, until I finally managed 3 x 175. After that I was in the LCM pool, so jumped to a full 200 LCM - OUCH!! So you have what 10 weeks? As our friend Stephen Covey says "Begin with the end in mind". You need to complete 225 yards/200m full stroke fly by the end of Jan. You can already do 4 lengths, so this week work on 5 lengths, then every 2 weeks add on another length to your sets and you'll be there easily :D

Fly is for sure a mostly core body stroke. If your abs are getting tired before your shoulders, you are definitely headed in the right direction. Developing a smooth fluidity in the whole body motion of fly is what makes it feel easy, and look good. The motion of the hips plays a huge part in this. You want to focus on keeping the hips high. The head leads the motion. In theory fly follows a sine-wave pattern... it's not that exactly, but that is a good image to keep in mind. I found it easier to learn the timing by increasing the amplitude and lowering the frequency of "the wave". Speed is gained when you lower the amplitude and increase the frequency of the wave... sort of like skipping a stone across a pond. Everyone has to find their own stroke... especially fly. There are some basic technique items that are universally true, but there are many variations depending on what kind of condition your body is in. For example, someone with arthritic shoulders is going to adapt differently than someone who is double jointed. You may want to check out the links in this post as well... beginner fly problem - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums Have Fun! :)

200 LCM is my objective for end January 2012 but I am struggling mentally and physically about how to get thereThere was a quote recently from a former Olympic 200 flyer (from the Spitz era, but not Spitz) who said something to the effect of, "you need to sleep the 1st 100." I cannot over-emphasize how easy you must strive to make that 1st 100 of a 200 fly feel, especially long course. I'd even suggest that, for your first attempt, you think about positively loafing for about 175M and then, and only then, try to put some level of effort into it. Take long, languid, breath-filled turns ... maybe even going so far as to flash a smile to the stroke and turn judge while you gulp some air. Try to glide as long as possible, maybe do a few extra kicks between strokes.

There was a quote recently from a former Olympic 200 flyer (from the Spitz era, but not Spitz) who said something to the effect of, "you need to sleep the 1st 100." I cannot over-emphasize how easy you must strive to make that 1st 100 of a 200 fly feel, especially long course. I'd even suggest that, for your first attempt, you think about positively loafing for about 175M and then, and only then, try to put some level of effort into it. Take long, languid, breath-filled turns ... maybe even going so far as to flash a smile to the stroke and turn judge while you gulp some air. Try to glide as long as possible, maybe do a few extra kicks between strokes. Here's a post where I explain how I get myself into sleep mode in the 200 fly and 400 IM: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Butterfly Dryland Question For the 200 fly I usually approach the event as 125 easy-75 hard for short course and 150 easy-50 hard for long course. When I raced the 200 SCM last weekend, I had planned on 125-75, but changed my plan mid-race and did 150-50 instead. That worked out fine. If it had started raining pianos in there, I could have instituted further damage control measures (175-25 or even 200-0). :afraid:

Here's a post where I explain how I get myself into sleep mode in the 200 fly and 400 IM: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Butterfly Dryland Question For the 200 fly I usually approach the event as 125 easy-75 hard for short course and 150 easy-50 hard for long course. When I raced the 200 SCM last weekend, I had planned on 125-75, but changed my plan mid-race and did 150-50 instead. That worked out fine. If it had started raining pianos in there, I could have instituted further damage control measures (175-25 or even 200-0). :afraid: I actually did the same exact thing as That GUy (we were next to each other). I did mine out of pure exhaustion going into the race though, knowing I wouldn't be able to "take it out" like I usually do. It was the easiest 200 Fly I'd ever done, and I made a run for it at the end, and almost caught That Guy too! :) We both ended up having best times in the race. Maybe this means I should change my approach at the 200 Fly??? NO WAY!!! Out like a rabbit is how I will be! :bliss: :banana: :bliss: