Your opinion needed!

[Kaci]

Ok guys I need to get my 50free time down by 1.5 seconds in 3 years. At the mo I do 28.7 (altho did a 27.7 in a relay, I know its a flying start and all)

Firstly do you think it is possible for me to get my time down that much? (I know thats hard to say as most of you havent seen me train or swim)

Secondly whats the best way to go about it? More gym time, specialise in free only....

Thanks xXx

[matt]

That time is more realistic then what I will have to aim for.

[ultraswim]

Dedication, but same amount of time in water.

Don't know how much time you spend in gym and what you do in there, but an extensive weights program has been used by top sprinters, based on what my daughter did.

[Tara]

Have you got to go 27.2 long course or short course?

[matt]

Originally posted by Tara
Have you got to go 27.2 long course or short course?
I'll answer that 1....short

[michael harvey]

The biggest improvement will come from starts and turns with good streamlining and a correct breathing pattern throughout the 50 metres.

I appreciate that you could start a new training regime, but the above are all things that you can work on during your existing training schedule.

One thing I would suggest is a lot of fly kick work to improve your dolphin kick.

My son worked on all these elements over the last 6 months and has made nearly a 4 sec improvement and swims 28 secs, which is not bad as he is adistance swimmer and just wanted to make his first 50 quicker so he could control his races and on a 200 swim he now swims a first 50 in 29 secs with a2.10 200 so hopefully it will benefit other distances as well.

Also get someone to film you as I am sure you know what you need to do and think that you are doing this, but the camera will show otherwise.

I know the above is a bit general and acoach would probably know better, but that how I have seen it from the stands.

[Bootie]

That isn't by any chance a CG consideration time you after? If so good luck as I am impressed with your long term ambition.
As for tips, keep doing what your doing and hit the gym to build those thighs and shoulders.

[Kaci]

The thing is I will be starting Uni in Sept so will have a new coach with maybe different methods and I will be hopefully training sometimes in a 50m pool.

Yeah they are CG consideration times, I thought I would set a slightly higher goal than island games, if I reach it, I reach it, if I don't well hopefully I'll know I did everything I could to get there but just wasn't quite god enough.

[Bootie]

As I said, I am impressed, not many students from Guernsey have the bottle to continue swimming at Uni and especially with CG in mind, there are a few exceptions though.

You will probably be in the right place at the right time to succeed, with a new club, new coach and new environment. Your facilities should be top notch where you are going and I hope when you come back you will have letters after your name.

Coach Kaci, IC, CIC, IG, CG. quite a mouthful really.

[GBMbreastroker]

I'm 16 an have been swimmin since bout 7 competively, but around 2 1/2 yrs ago i got laid off for 4 months because of an operataion, and then fo the next year and a 1/2 only went once or twice a week. At christmas i went to a presentation night for the club champs and realised i needed to get back into it. So that next week i went 6 times :shocking: and have been doin that since!!!!!!!!!! I was being beaten by the 10 yr olds at first, but now i'm getting closer and closer to the kids of my age. The way i've done it as i'm sure u know by now was to try and do too much. i've felt like poo alot and have nearly been sick, but by pushing yourself as hard as possible you will get their. something i use to help me is to set myself small goals at a time. For example if your swimming 2nd in a lane train as hard as you can to get ahead of that person. also 1.5 secs in 3 years is a way toooo loose-termed for a goal, and even though you may do it , you need to set yourself goals in the mean time. Try and PB EVERY gala ! i know it sounds too hard but you have to believe that you can do it. Also experiment in the gym as different things work for differnent people, and i agree that your start turn and streamlining will be the best things to work on
But the most important thing is to believe in yourself and train HARD!

[geochuck]

1.5... To get your time down is probably not that difficult. You must start this from the staring block, entry into the water and your movement must not be slowed by anything you do after entering the water. Your exit from the dive to your starting to swim is indeed important. Maximize your pull from the catch position, use newton's third law to the fullest. Don't slap the water with you hands because it slaps you back with equal force. Remember no one else can do this for you, it is up to you.

Good luck I'm sure you will come through if you have the desire
George

[GettingFaster]

Welcome, GMBreastroker, good to have you. This is quite an old thread though, and having seen Kaci swimming recently she's doing juss' FINE! :wave:

[Kaci]

I like your sarcasm!

[GettingFaster]

I'm not being sarcastic Kaci, you went away from Manchester with gold medals, that's not worthy of sarcasm, just big pats on the back. How are you doing with that 1.5 seconds anyhow?

[Kaci]

lets not talk about that!

[Pete]

Technique is the route to improvement. Without seeing how you swim assessment is difficult. PM me for some possible help.

[GBMbreastroker]

sorry, i was probably no help then, but still managed to waste 15 minutes of boredom :p

[Kaci]

Thing is I have always worried about my technique, it was when i started basically throwing my arms my time went down by about 4 seconds in 2 months (100free). My coach said that my technique had deteriorated but as I had gotten faster she would leave it for the moment. Then i began to get shoulder problems so i have reverted to my old stroke.

Maybe when i throw my arms my under water pull changes and becomes more effective.

[Top10ranking]

if there is a possibility do extra training. that is what i have done this year i have gone form 4/5 sessions a week to 8/9.

i have improveed majorly, i have gone from 19.30 in the 1500free to 17.02, my 100back used to be 68 short and now it is 64 long and i have gone from 63 for 100free short to 57long.

so hopefully you can do the same :) good luck

[Bazza]

Of course in a race (especially 50s and maybe 100s) you don't have time to think about technique, you've just got to get the stroke rate up. That's why you spend so much time practising technique so that hopefully it holds together even when you're not thinking about it.