We
are watching our team (North Bay Aquatics) race 200 frees here in Clovis, CA
this weekend. We have had some well-constructed swims (which have been fast)
and some not so well put together which have been disappointing.
This
leads us to the basic primer on “how to swim a 200 free” – born in part from
Mike McDonald who coaches younger swimmers at the Tiburon Peninsula Club here
in northern California.
Mike
says to the younger ones if you want to swim a 200 here is all you need to know…talk
about the power of keeping it simple. Swim the first 50 like you are giving a
stroke demonstration; swim the 2nd 50 giving a stroke demonstration
with some extra power added in; on the third 50 show me your kick; on the
fourth 50 show me your character. We love the simplicity. And man does it work!
When
you look at any of the faster times posted at the collegiate level (there are
many this time of year as the conferences hold their championship meets with
the NCAA’s to follow) simply check out the results with the splits. The guys
and gals swimming up front are swimming the same speed for every lap. The first
50 is always faster due to the dive but the swimming speed is the same…whatever
the first 50 is, call it “x”, then the next 3x50 are all “x+2”. The ratios are
slightly different for back, breast and fly but when you study how the fastest
swimmers manage their energy resources you find that they know how to meter out
their reserves such that the speed stays up throughout the swim.
The
easy way for a youngster to figure out that process is by the simple
instructions of: “stroke demo, stroke demo with some energy, kick, character.
It
works so well we recommend Mike patent it!
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