So I was voluntold to do a swim meet (Buff invitational in Thornton, CO) and although I now how almost 2 full years in the pool, I’ve never “raced” anyone in swimming. I do fairly decent in OW swim portion of triathlon (around ~20 min for 1.5k), but I think I go harder in the pool.
For all you fishes out there, what is your strategy for racing a 1650 (scy) or 1500m (scm)? I’d like to be just under 19 minutes but like I said, I have no real experience.
sub 20 minutes puts you in a pretty talented group of swimmers. World class, ie Sun Yang (sp?) and Ryan Cochrane, swam the 1500m in just slightly less than 15 minutes @ London 2012 this year. So, I must say I’m impressed and really have no place telling you how to swim LOL
Well that means they are probably 4 minutes + faster than me. I don’t think I’ll be all that competitive but I want to get a good idea on how people race this sort of distance. In OW I just go hard at first to get away from the thrashing, then I settle into something comfortable. Since I wont be punching anyone in my lane line, should I go out fast or easy?
Your first 200 or so should be easy speed, you will be going fast because you are excited but don’t push it beyond that, it should feel easy. I would try to focus on descending your 550’s both effort and time wise. This will lead to a solid and balanced swim. You want to avoid going out too fast and falling apart in the second half, and focusing on this descent will do that. I would also concentrate on your turns, strong flip turns and streamlined dolphin kick off the walls can really make the difference between an average swim and a good one.
Most of all have fun! I need to be voluntold to race in a meet again, although I will likely be depressed at how my swimm fitness has suffered at the hands of my cycling and running fitness.
Essentially, your first 200 or so will be faster than the rest until you settle into a pace then your 50 splits should be within .5 seconds of each other from there on out if you are swimming it well. As the race goes on just keep adding effort as you can and slowly bring those 50 splits down and your last 50-100 yards be as fast as you can go. When you exit the pool you should be thinking “how on earth do I cycle 40k and run 10k after this.” It really is a different beast than an OWS.
So I was voluntold to do a swim meet (Buff invitational in Thornton, CO) and although I now how almost 2 full years in the pool, I’ve never “raced” anyone in swimming. I do fairly decent in OW swim portion of triathlon (around ~20 min for 1.5k), but I think I go harder in the pool.
For all you fishes out there, what is your strategy for racing a 1650 (scy) or 1500m (scm)? I’d like to be just under 19 minutes but like I said, I have no real experience.
I liked splitting that into 3x500’s + a lights out or a WTF are you doing 150…
however none of this blah blah makes sense when you look at splits…last time I swam a 1650, this is what it looked like… However it felt like just described to you
27.32 30.61 30.85 30.76 31.32 31.53 31.22 31.61 31.30 31.77 31.99 31.81 31.55 31.29 31.41 32.08 32.17 31.83 31.69 31.94 31.44 31.81 31.65 31.81 31.67 31.80 31.59 31.97 31.45 31.83 30.81 30.61 27.16
Thanks soo much. This helps a ton.
I can honestly say I’ve never pushed myself extremely hard on distance events so hopefully I don’t back down because of some discomfort!
Essentially, your first 200 or so will be faster than the rest until you settle into a pace then your 50 splits should be within .5 seconds of each other from there on out if you are swimming it well. As the race goes on just keep adding effort as you can and slowly bring those 50 splits down and your last 50-100 yards be as fast as you can go. When you exit the pool you should be thinking “how on earth do I cycle 40k and run 10k after this.” It really is a different beast than an OWS.
This!!! if you look at the split i posted, it kind looks exactly to what gt is talking about…
No problem, let us know how it goes.
however none of this blah blah makes sense when you look at splits…last time I swam a 1650, this is what it looked like… However it felt like just described to you
27.32 30.61 30.85 30.76 31.32 31.53 31.22 31.61 31.30 31.77 31.99 31.81 31.55 31.29 31.41 32.08 32.17 31.83 31.69 31.94 31.44 31.81 31.65 31.81 31.67 31.80 31.59 31.97 31.45 31.83 30.81 30.61 27.16
That is pretty quick right there.
Descend the 500’s and then hammer the last 150. Have fun!
Albert
Basically what everyone has said so far. Break it into 3 500’s with a 150 sprint at the end. First 500 should be long and controlled. second 500 you should kick the legs a little harder and pick up your tempo slightly. last 500 should again build the efforts in leg effort and tempo. all out 150 at the end
however none of this blah blah makes sense when you look at splits…last time I swam a 1650, this is what it looked like… However it felt like just described to you
27.32 30.61 30.85 30.76 31.32 31.53 31.22 31.61 31.30 31.77 31.99 31.81 31.55 31.29 31.41 32.08 32.17 31.83 31.69 31.94 31.44 31.81 31.65 31.81 31.67 31.80 31.59 31.97 31.45 31.83 30.81 30.61 27.16
That is pretty quick right there.
ha, thanks! I’d like to think that too… However I know girls can swim faster than that XD
So I was voluntold to do a swim meet (Buff invitational in Thornton, CO) and although I now how almost 2 full years in the pool, I’ve never “raced” anyone in swimming. I do fairly decent in OW swim portion of triathlon (around ~20 min for 1.5k), but I think I go harder in the pool.
For all you fishes out there, what is your strategy for racing a 1650 (scy) or 1500m (scm)? I’d like to be just under 19 minutes but like I said, I have no real experience.
I liked splitting that into 3x500’s + a lights out or a WTF are you doing 150…
however none of this blah blah makes sense when you look at splits…last time I swam a 1650, this is what it looked like… However it felt like just described to you
27.32 30.61 30.85 30.76 31.32 31.53 31.22 31.61 31.30 31.77 31.99 31.81 31.55 31.29 31.41 32.08 32.17 31.83 31.69 31.94 31.44 31.81 31.65 31.81 31.67 31.80 31.59 31.97 31.45 31.83 30.81 30.61 27.16
Mike Collins used to have us do a 1650-specific workout when he coached at the Davis Aquatic Masters. The first was a 1650, broken exactly as you describe, and the second was a straight 1650 using the strategy in a straight swim.
So I was voluntold to do a swim meet (Buff invitational in Thornton, CO) and although I now how almost 2 full years in the pool, I’ve never “raced” anyone in swimming. I do fairly decent in OW swim portion of triathlon (around ~20 min for 1.5k), but I think I go harder in the pool.
For all you fishes out there, what is your strategy for racing a 1650 (scy) or 1500m (scm)? I’d like to be just under 19 minutes but like I said, I have no real experience.
I liked splitting that into 3x500’s + a lights out or a WTF are you doing 150…
however none of this blah blah makes sense when you look at splits…last time I swam a 1650, this is what it looked like… However it felt like just described to you
27.32 30.61 30.85 30.76 31.32 31.53 31.22 31.61 31.30 31.77 31.99 31.81 31.55 31.29 31.41 32.08 32.17 31.83 31.69 31.94 31.44 31.81 31.65 31.81 31.67 31.80 31.59 31.97 31.45 31.83 30.81 30.61 27.16
Mike Collins used to have us do a 1650-specific workout when he coached at the Davis Aquatic Masters. The first was a 1650, broken exactly as you describe, and the second was a straight 1650 using the strategy in a straight swim.
Maybe “Mike Collins” is my lost twin? bahahaha! I actually came up with this myself, and my teammates told me I was crazy XD
Do you know what the pool is like? Will there be an electronic timer you can get splits off of, or will you have somebody who can tell you how you’re pacing? If no, then just make sure you don’t go out too hard in the beginning, stay focused in the middle (ie don’t comfortably lag), and gradually build towards the end.
The only time I’ve done more than a 1650 was a 2,000 pull w/ paddles. Ouch. Everything else maxed out at 1,000, and never raced it before. Honestly, I’m a medium-distance swimmer so I prefer to think of anything over 500 as sets of 200’s. I’d think of it as a 150 get-yourself-together cruising pace, 6 200’s; increase pace on #3-4, and 5-6. Then pick up to a hard swim until I get told to stop by my counter.
The first 500 will feel fast. The last 500 will feel fast.
The middle 500 will feel like an eternity. I have to focus on pushing through there because it seems like you’ve gone so far and still have so far to go.
will you have somebody who can tell you how you’re pacing?
Isn’t it cheating to have your lap counter do anything special with the cards to tell you your pace?
Put the emotional brakes on during that first and second 50. Then, find the envelope’s edge by progressively building into those 50’s around the 500 mark. When you get to 1000, remember you still have 650 to go, so don’t start wrapping it up with fast speed until about 1400-1450. Then, find out how much you have left and think about getting to the 1650 mark knowing you can’t swim another foot.
Your first 50 IS going to be the fastest because of the dive. So, if you go out in 32, that’s equivalent to a 34plus, because of the dive. That’s why you want to out the emotional brakes on the race up front. Lay off your kick for a while.