What do YOU need to do to have a major swimming breakthrough?"

I would also like to make a breakthrough in the next year. Although it may seem a very humble goal to most: I'd like to be able to qualify in one event for the USMS LCM Nationals next year in Indianapolis. I live in Chicago and know I'll be going anyway and will swim in some events I can't qualify in (allowed up to 3), but it would be GREAT to actually qualify in something. I believe my best shot is the 50 ***. I just swam in a LCM meet a few weeks ago and clocked a 48.54. The qualifying time this year was 45.01; so I need to make up about 3.5 seconds--maybe 4 as the qualifying time will probably be lower next year. I really think I can do it--I just started swimming breaststroke in the past 8 months and have improved my SCY time by about 2.5 seconds. In practice we swim soooo much freestyle that I am sure if I concentrated more on breaststroke I'd see some results. I have answered some of the questions asked in an earlier post and would like some advice on what kind of training (both dry and in the pool) I should be working on. How much yardage/meters should I accomplish per workout? How many days per week do I swim/train? How may times per day? How many times a week are you training? In the pool 5-6 times a week, but can amp up in the fall/winter/spring when I can also practice at night. I am currently not doing any other kind of training or weights, etc. How far do you go in each practice? 1800-3800 meters (LC and SC)/yards depending upon pool and how much time I have How hard and fast do you go? Depends, but KNOW I could train harder and faster Do you have any training partners who are as good or better than you? Yes, but not every day Are you splitting your race correctly? Is there a split in a 50 LCM ***? did you taper? No did you shave? Yes are you wearing a fast skin body suit in races? No how good was the pool you swam in? Shallow--5 ft at deepest section how psyched were you before and during your race? Nervous mostly are you making any technique mistakes you could improve? Probably...haven't had any real coaching ever (just watch videos to pick up technique, but have little idea what I look like). Our team doesn't have a coach--we've been trying to find someone...no luck so far how close are you to your ideal body weight? Could lose 20 pounds and am actively working on this how strong are you? Pretty strong Thanks for any help and/or advice!!! Ellen

I would also like to make a breakthrough in the next year. Although it may seem a very humble goal to most: I'd like to be able to qualify in one event for the USMS LCM Nationals next year in Indianapolis. I live in Chicago and know I'll be going anyway and will swim in some events I can't qualify in (allowed up to 3), but it would be GREAT to actually qualify in something. I believe my best shot is the 50 ***. I just swam in a LCM meet a few weeks ago and clocked a 48.54. The qualifying time this year was 45.01; so I need to make up about 3.5 seconds--maybe 4 as the qualifying time will probably be lower next year. I really think I can do it--I just started swimming breaststroke in the past 8 months and have improved my SCY time by about 2.5 seconds. In practice we swim soooo much freestyle that I am sure if I concentrated more on breaststroke I'd see some results. I have answered some of the questions asked in an earlier post and would like some advice on what kind of training (both dry and in the pool) I should be working on. How much yardage/meters should I accomplish per workout? How many days per week do I swim/train? How may times per day? How many times a week are you training? In the pool 5-6 times a week, but can amp up in the fall/winter/spring when I can also practice at night. I am currently not doing any other kind of training or weights, etc. How far do you go in each practice? 1800-3800 meters (LC and SC)/yards depending upon pool and how much time I have How hard and fast do you go? Depends, but KNOW I could train harder and faster Do you have any training partners who are as good or better than you? Yes, but not every day Are you splitting your race correctly? Is there a split in a 50 LCM ***? did you taper? No did you shave? Yes are you wearing a fast skin body suit in races? No how good was the pool you swam in? Shallow--5 ft at deepest section how psyched were you before and during your race? Nervous mostly are you making any technique mistakes you could improve? Probably...haven't had any real coaching ever (just watch videos to pick up technique, but have little idea what I look like). Our team doesn't have a coach--we've been trying to find someone...no luck so far how close are you to your ideal body weight? Could lose 20 pounds and am actively working on this how strong are you? Pretty strong Thanks for any help and/or advice!!! Ellen