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

good luck hope you do how old are you? how fast were you at your peak? I am. I have been training for approximately 2 months (weights and swimming). My goal for now is to get down to the 45-46 area in the 100 yard free. After training for only a month (not that seriously) I went a 51.5 in my 100. I am hoping to get it down to about a 49 low to a mid 48 before I taper. I feel much stronger than I ever did when I used to compete but don't have the endurance that I once did. I am sure that will come in time. Just rambling.

I am 27. My fastest time in the 100 FR was a 47.09 SCY. I believe I was 18 when I did this time. At the time I weighed around 165 lbs. I also feel I was being over-trained. I now weigh 221 lbs (recently lost 35 lbs.) and would like to get down to 210 - 215 lbs. My practices now consist of no more than 4000 yards. MWF Are my harder days T TH Are weights and between 1600 to 2800 yards in the pool Saturday is active recovery

I'm a 19 years old and a sophomore in College. I stopped swimming after my senior year of high school, but now I'm trying to get back into swimming and possibly tryout for my college swim team at the start of next year. At my peak I swam 100 *** in 1.07 200 *** in 2.30 100 fly in 1.00 and 200 fly in 2.20, all in SCY. I'm still in good physical shape because I was on my school crew team last year but my swimming skill has weakened. I was wondering if you had any pointers or suggestions on practices and workouts.

Ande, I want a breakthrough! Currently, training is typically 1700-2000 SCY 5 days a week. Usually something like: 500 w.u. 10x 50 on 1:00 (80%-90% max H.R.) 2min rest 500 pull 2min rest 250 hard (80% max H.R.) 2min rest 200-500 cruise (60% max H.R.) with a 1-3 mile run 1 to 2 days a week and 3 days a week (mild) weight training and situps I'm 44 and my PRs (in 1984 - at 18 years old) are: 22.8 - 50 free 48.9 - 100 free 1:58 - 200 free 5:49 - 500 free Today's times are roughly: 27.5 - 50 free 1:08 - 100 (see, my stamina is suffering) 2:35 - 200 6:45 - 500 So yes, I'm no where near where I used to be. I think it was the 20+ years of beer and b0n9hits that did me in. But I'm clean and sober for 3 years and more determined than ever to get State-Level times back in my possession. Your thoughts on a plan to return to 'above mediocre'? Heart Rate: Theoretically, my max H.R. should be about 175, but when hit 165 I feel pretty dang light-headed and max'd out. The highest I've ever seen it go is 168 and I was very toasty. I'd like to get your input on this. I just joined USMS with the hope of meeting more like-minded people as my local YMCA doesn't really have much in the way of similar-aged, similar-paced, and similarly-driven 44 year-olds like me. It looks like I have a club nearby with such people as members. I'm looking forward to start working out with them. I'm rambling.:blah: Would love to hear your thoughts on what I have written so far. Any and all input will be most gratefully received. ---figgs

Jeff, You should really try coming to Emory on Sun am at 8. I think you'd enjoy it and at least have some training partners one day/wk -Heidi

All I need for a breakthough is probably a team to swim with. I need that day in, day out competition you have with other folks during practice to push you that extra 10%. I currently train myself alone. There is a team at one of the pools I can swim at but I don't care for the coach and its too $$$ for me at this time. I feel I'm doing pretty good on my own, but I KNOW I could be alot better/faster with a team.

good luck how did it go ande Yeah Craig, how did it go? Hope our paths will cross at a meet soon. There's one here next week. Has been many, many years since we swam in the same pool together. Not quite so many years since we boated on the same lake. You wrote me a ticket for skiing without a spotter... Hope all is well with your family. It's been a long time.

I also had a mini-breakthrough in breaststroke this year. In March 2009 I swam 50 in 31.33, which was a masters PR for me by a good margin. In the same meet this year I swam 30.81. At nationals my split in the relay was 29.4, which I equate to around 30 flat start. More importantly for me, I have made similar improvements in the BR split in the 200IM. The things that seem to have worked for me are: 1. Swimming Br in practice 2. Working on technique: higher hips, improving DPS/efficiency, some kick work with Br fins 3. A Br specific warm-up routine before Br and IM races. Now working up plan to consolidate and further improve. What lead to your breakthrough Ande?

as one season ends SCY and a new one begins, LCM, it might be helpful to ask yourself: "What do I need to do to have a major swimming breakthrough?" What are my focus events? What would a breakthough look like? ~ ~ ~ please share your answers. I had an unintended breakthrough this season. My 50 breastroke dropped from 28.6 last year to 27.4 this year It also helps to ask, "What do I need to do to get better?" write down each aspect create a plan to address it then get to work. hope this helps you swim faster faster and break on through to the other side. Ande

anyone working on one?