I did a 50 fly in my first swim meet in 20+ years with minimal training so I thought I would have no problem doing a 100 three months later. Since then I have trained harder and improved significantly in the freestyle with speed and endurance yet I still die after 50 yards of butterfly. 95% of my training is free as the fly takes everything out of me. At the end of a 2000 yard workout I might do one 50. That might not sound like much to you all but I can do a set of like 15 x 100 which is well beyond what i have been capable in years.
Once a week I might do 10X25 fly or I might just see how far I can go. I always die after the 2nd turn. Complete breakdown. Yet I could do a 50 months ago without any concern at all of just completing the distance.
My stroke may be fundamentally flawed. Maybe I just got by as a youth on raw power. The only form I have is all out until the momentum is lost and then it is complete breakdown withing 3 strokes. I don't know if there is some kind of hesitation stroke I can use to get through, but at this point I think I need sets and strategies to build up to it on the stroke I have.
I'm afraid this is what I am looking at. Stubborness towards this goal is the only thing that hasn't made me admit defeat yet. I really do just do it for fun and fitness, but for me that requires these kinds of goals. If I can't start completing 100s consistently in practice I guess I will just have to scratch. Hanging on the wall is an option but I don't know if I can deal with that.
:frustrated:
Herb,
I'm with Fortress here. You don't need to swim 100 flys in practice. Concentrate on 25s and maybe 50s where you really focus on keeping good technique.
When I was training for my 100 fly, I would do the following (in 25m pool) 1-2x week usually at the end of practice.
4x50 Fly on 2:00
8x25 Fly on 1:00
Where I would concentrate on a strong kick and staying low. As soon as I started to break down, I would finish that one free and put my fins on and swim the remaining repeats with fins. At first I would make only the first 50 and maybe the first 3 25s before I would have to put my fins on. But the secret here is do not keep swimming fly if your technique has totally broken down.
I'm afraid this is what I am looking at. Stubborness towards this goal is the only thing that hasn't made me admit defeat yet. I really do just do it for fun and fitness, but for me that requires these kinds of goals. If I can't start completing 100s consistently in practice I guess I will just have to scratch. Hanging on the wall is an option but I don't know if I can deal with that.
:frustrated:
Herb,
I'm with Fortress here. You don't need to swim 100 flys in practice. Concentrate on 25s and maybe 50s where you really focus on keeping good technique.
When I was training for my 100 fly, I would do the following (in 25m pool) 1-2x week usually at the end of practice.
4x50 Fly on 2:00
8x25 Fly on 1:00
Where I would concentrate on a strong kick and staying low. As soon as I started to break down, I would finish that one free and put my fins on and swim the remaining repeats with fins. At first I would make only the first 50 and maybe the first 3 25s before I would have to put my fins on. But the secret here is do not keep swimming fly if your technique has totally broken down.
