I want to roll a sub :30 50 free......in my dreams I want a sick number like a 25 sec 50 free.

So far....I'm down to 31:34

What percentage of my daily workout should be just speed oriented and what percentage  logging yards with sets of 200s or more?

How often in say a week should I be training with USRPT workouts?

How often should I be using gear like a parachute for resistance? Do a couple hundies each training session or only every so often?

Is there anywhere here that I can look at a workout program that is like "ok your race is two months out.....here's workouts that will help you peak in eight weeks? It seems so many workouts here are just people posting "this was a killer workout" Ok great but if it isn't part of a structured plan then what benefit is it to me? Or....can you make the argument that hey, just pick any workout it's all going to the same goal no matter how you get there? 

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  • I agree with Allen's suggestions with these additional comments targeted towards your goal in the 50:

    Every practice should include some sprinting - be it 25s or 50s. Not more than 250-300 yards of 25s or 50s. Alternate 25s and 50s by days. They should be 100% effort with lots of rest.  Incorporate your standard warm-up before doing these.  The rest of practice should be technique focused - streamlining, distance per stroke, incorporating 6 beat kicks.  

    IMO, you also have to do 50s.  And, as Allen said for 25s - from a block.  This could be 8 x 25 on 2:00 and that is it for sprinting. The first few times you do 6 x 50 on 2-3 minutes, figure out your breathing pattern for both lengths.  Any breaths on the first length ought to be completed before the flags, so you are not turning your head to breathe as you go into the turn.  Coming off the wall, you want to get at least 2-4 strokes before another breath.  Whatever pattern you figure out, practice it at slow speeds before ramping up to 100%.  Ideally, you want to hold your breathe for the final 7 yards.  Breathing while sprinting needs to be planned including the exhale.

    Figure out if you are a strong underwater dolphin kicker.  Some people are great at it.  Others not so much.  If you are great at it, figure out exactly how many kicks to take before surfacing.  The goal is NOT to stay under as long as possible (not further than 15 meters).  The goal is to carry speed from the start to an optimal point and set you up to be on-stroke into the turn.  If you are terrible at dolphin kicking, but do it because everyone else tells you to - stop listening to them.  Doing dolphin kick in this case will only slow you down.  Time yourself with and without dolphin kicks to develop your unique style.

    In addition to doing 25s off the block, do mid-pool 37s.  Start in the middle of the pool, accelerate into the turn, and practice the second 25 at 100%  including getting your final touch on-stroke.  Nothing worse than a great race ruined by a glide or a short stroke finish.

    As for a workout program, develop a race day warm-up routine that includes warm-up swimming (400-600 yards, build-up swimming such as 4-6 x 50/75 at 75-80%, 8-10 technique 25s).  Do this routine at every practice.  When you get 1-2 weeks before the target meet, you can keep volume up and reduce the amount of high intensity 25s and 50s you are doing.  Without knowing your age, practices/week, daily volume, going into more detail won't be helpful.

    Personally, I do not use training equipment - except a kickboard.  Every lap I swim, I try to emulate my best possible technique and body position while swimming and doing turns.  This means arms and legs and core are always working - no matter how fast or slow I am going.  Paddles and pull buoys change body position, parachutes definitely change body position, fins change body position,  etc.. Most swimmers use equipment as a change of pace or rest their legs instead of for the reasons they are intended.  Maybe use the parachute early season, but only if it does not mess with technique.

    For a 50, I would not incorporate USRPT - at least as you read how some incorporate it into training.  However, a 100 is a different animal and USRPT may be helpful.  Training for a 100 is going to require lactate tolerance sets such as 4-6 x 100 on 5-6 minutes.  Or 4 -6 x 25 on 10 seconds rest.  You need a different breathing pattern than the 50.  Your legs need to be conditioned for strong kicking for a minute or more which is considerably different than a 50.

    50's are 100% explosive effort for 30 seconds.  When you practice 25s or 50s, approach it that way.  Initially, you will find that you think you are at 100%, but you are not.  Over these next 8 weeks, you will be able to figure out what 100% is.

    When your meet arrives, try to warm-up in the lane you will race in.  Get to know the walls, the bottom, the target, even the block.  Warm-up is for the body and the mind to know the conditions you are racing in.  Be especially aware of a turn on a bulkhead because these can be visually very challenging.

    Good luck!

Reply
  • I agree with Allen's suggestions with these additional comments targeted towards your goal in the 50:

    Every practice should include some sprinting - be it 25s or 50s. Not more than 250-300 yards of 25s or 50s. Alternate 25s and 50s by days. They should be 100% effort with lots of rest.  Incorporate your standard warm-up before doing these.  The rest of practice should be technique focused - streamlining, distance per stroke, incorporating 6 beat kicks.  

    IMO, you also have to do 50s.  And, as Allen said for 25s - from a block.  This could be 8 x 25 on 2:00 and that is it for sprinting. The first few times you do 6 x 50 on 2-3 minutes, figure out your breathing pattern for both lengths.  Any breaths on the first length ought to be completed before the flags, so you are not turning your head to breathe as you go into the turn.  Coming off the wall, you want to get at least 2-4 strokes before another breath.  Whatever pattern you figure out, practice it at slow speeds before ramping up to 100%.  Ideally, you want to hold your breathe for the final 7 yards.  Breathing while sprinting needs to be planned including the exhale.

    Figure out if you are a strong underwater dolphin kicker.  Some people are great at it.  Others not so much.  If you are great at it, figure out exactly how many kicks to take before surfacing.  The goal is NOT to stay under as long as possible (not further than 15 meters).  The goal is to carry speed from the start to an optimal point and set you up to be on-stroke into the turn.  If you are terrible at dolphin kicking, but do it because everyone else tells you to - stop listening to them.  Doing dolphin kick in this case will only slow you down.  Time yourself with and without dolphin kicks to develop your unique style.

    In addition to doing 25s off the block, do mid-pool 37s.  Start in the middle of the pool, accelerate into the turn, and practice the second 25 at 100%  including getting your final touch on-stroke.  Nothing worse than a great race ruined by a glide or a short stroke finish.

    As for a workout program, develop a race day warm-up routine that includes warm-up swimming (400-600 yards, build-up swimming such as 4-6 x 50/75 at 75-80%, 8-10 technique 25s).  Do this routine at every practice.  When you get 1-2 weeks before the target meet, you can keep volume up and reduce the amount of high intensity 25s and 50s you are doing.  Without knowing your age, practices/week, daily volume, going into more detail won't be helpful.

    Personally, I do not use training equipment - except a kickboard.  Every lap I swim, I try to emulate my best possible technique and body position while swimming and doing turns.  This means arms and legs and core are always working - no matter how fast or slow I am going.  Paddles and pull buoys change body position, parachutes definitely change body position, fins change body position,  etc.. Most swimmers use equipment as a change of pace or rest their legs instead of for the reasons they are intended.  Maybe use the parachute early season, but only if it does not mess with technique.

    For a 50, I would not incorporate USRPT - at least as you read how some incorporate it into training.  However, a 100 is a different animal and USRPT may be helpful.  Training for a 100 is going to require lactate tolerance sets such as 4-6 x 100 on 5-6 minutes.  Or 4 -6 x 25 on 10 seconds rest.  You need a different breathing pattern than the 50.  Your legs need to be conditioned for strong kicking for a minute or more which is considerably different than a 50.

    50's are 100% explosive effort for 30 seconds.  When you practice 25s or 50s, approach it that way.  Initially, you will find that you think you are at 100%, but you are not.  Over these next 8 weeks, you will be able to figure out what 100% is.

    When your meet arrives, try to warm-up in the lane you will race in.  Get to know the walls, the bottom, the target, even the block.  Warm-up is for the body and the mind to know the conditions you are racing in.  Be especially aware of a turn on a bulkhead because these can be visually very challenging.

    Good luck!

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