Favorite Set 1200-2000

Phil's modest. I think he had more top 10 swims than any other 45 year old man this summer. Originally posted by gull80 You guys must have very young looking organs. I had been feeling pretty good about myself until I read this thread. And Phil, your post looks like an "elite" set to me, also.

Here is a little set my coach gave me the other morning. 1x200 on 2:15 1x200 broken at 100 for 10 secs, and at 150 for 5 sec on 2:30 4x50's on 35 minute rest after 50's or 50 easy Odd's were stroke (fly) even ones free Have a great day, greg

As the gauntlet was clearly thrown down by others, let me just say that I do my 100's on 1:20.... In meters But I am only 28 so that is cheating! College we had two guys that were under 1:53 in the 200 back. I was probably a 1:44 in the 200 free (never did it tapered). Anyhow, any set over 2000 and I would get smoked by the backstrokers (in case this wasn't clear, I was doing free and they were doing back). And it would p*ss me off! The best explanation I can come up with is that doing backstroke does not cause oxygen deprivation. Any others have similar experiences (on either side of the equation)? Anyhow, thanks for the ideas. These are some good sets.

Calling this a p*****g match is a little extreme. Just because we are sharing sets we like to do, does not mean we are trying to outdo each other. I really don't think it matters what intervals we go on. I wish everyone had the freedom to share sets, times, etc. without others thinking it is a p*****g match. I am sure if I said I did sets on 2:00 per 100 nothing would have been said. So since "elite" swimmers should not be on here (as was implied), although I don't and never have considered myself that way, I will no longer post sets on here. I was excited to see such a great discussion of new sets to try. Thanks for ruining it. P.S. Lefty, I think you have something there about oxygen deprivation. I definitely can keep going much longer on my back than on my stomach at a high pace I definitely think it is due to oxygen intake. But who knows??

Here is one of my favorites 400 swim - get time at the 300 mark 300 Swim - beat previous 300 time, get time at the 200 mark 200 swim - beat previous 200 time, get time at 100 mark 100 swim - beat time from previous 100 time Rest 30 seconds between swims. Rest one minute Repeat and descend. Michael

Sam, I did not mean to offend you, and I am sorry! Note that I said that *after* I contributed to the thread with some 'humble' comments, and my final comment put me in the same category! Your contributions are certainly appreciated by me and many other people as you can tell by the comments they have made. I made it as a self-deprecating (sp?) joke and as an aside to the many swimmers that I know are intimidated by these sets.

I have a question for Fritz, Sam and/or Phil--are these intervals that you've been swimming consistently for years or did you have to work back up to this level (and if so over what time frame)? Since many of us have returned to swimming after a number of years, this would be very helpful. And Sam, it's very motivating (to me at least) to see what Masters swimmers are capable of.

I've been back in for about 6 years and would say it took me several years to get where I felt comfortable working out at a pretty good pace. Originally posted by gull80 I have a question for Fritz, Sam and/or Phil--are these intervals that you've been swimming consistently for years or did you have to work back up to this level (and if so over what time frame)? Since many of us have returned to swimming after a number of years, this would be very helpful.

Sam We did a very similar set Saturday morning and I agree it's a good one. We regrouped for about 15 seconds before the last set to make sure the strongest were in the front. 5x100 1:30 5x100 1:10 5x100 1:30 5x100 1:15 5x100 1:30 5x100 1:10 Yes it's 3000 but the constant switching of intervals makes it go by quickly. The change in rest and having to adjust speed and focus also makes it interesting. All backstroke for me as well. Is there really any other way?

I got back 3.5 years ago after a 20 year break. Only recently since I have started to increase my yardage above 12,000/wk have I been able to do sets like this reliably - and I still haven't decided if my body is up for the long-term challenge. The times I am doing, as well as the workout sets as I remember them, are very comparable to my high school situation, and only 2 - 8% worse than by best college times (though yardage is still x3 less.) Two things from that information - I was no great shakes as a younger swimmer, and there need not be a whole lot of degradation of ability by the middle forties, for any of us.