The last attempt

I think this was the last chance I’ll get to go for the freestyle swimming record, and I’ve done the same as last week! I set off at a comfortable pace, didn’t use my legs, and kept my speed down to what I thought was the right pace. After 200m though I’d had enough! My arms ached, my shoulder was tired, I was out of breath and I wanted to go home. I certainly didn’t want to turn round and do another 200m. So I blobbed! I gave up and went home!

The good news is that my time was faster over 200m, even though I set off at a better rate. I came in at 3:37 which takes a whole 6 seconds off the half as good 200m target. The problem is, I just don’t seem to have the stamina. The pace didn’t feel too fast; I was breathing heavily, but not gasping. Only afterwards did it really strike me that maybe an hour of diving isn’t really the best warm up?

So, it looks like I’ve failed on the 400m attempt, but I’ve managed the 200m freestyle. Is this enough to get me into Team Half as Good for May?

Look out for June’s half as good challenge coming up soon!

A 200m struggle

Another quick dip after my Tuesday night diving session. No accidents or mishaps; the pool was open, and set up for long course 50m lengths.

I set off with a 200m warm up, and then after catching my breath, a fast start for the 200m timed. Too fast! I set off using my legs, but too much. After two lengths, halfway to 200m my legs felt exhausted and I had a glance at the time. I was on 1:43 which was slower than my 100m last week, and I felt as tired as I had then. The next length was awful. I eased off on my legs, but still felt really tired and got that horrible front crawl drowning feeling! I started thinking that I was fed up with trying to swim fast and it will be so great when this stupid challenge is over. I doubt Olympic swimmers motivate themselves with promises of retirement, but it was all I could think about!

The last length was easier. I guess I upped the speed, and there wasn’t really the temptation to stop and give in. Maybe swimming towards the final wall is easier. I finished right on 3:40 which means I did just under a minute a length for the last two, and somewhere near 50 seconds a length for the first two. I’d guess that my third length was well over a minute and my final length closer to 50 seconds again.

The world record for 400m freestyle is 3:40.07 so I was right on the half as good target. It wasn’t done in any style, but I’m ticking that one off! I’ve got a bit more than a week to go for the 400m now (and maybe try to get the 100 done faster?) before I can enjoy that retirement!

Another attempt

Had a lunchtime swim in Dewsbury pool today. Didn’t have very long, so I did a 400m swim with a pretty slow start, timed at a rather poor 9 mins something, then a 100m sprint at just under 1 min 40 secs. It’s hard to be sure at Dewsbury, as the pool is 33m, so you finish at the opposite end, and the clocks are small and useless! Still, I’m confident that I got the 100m again. This time I actually used my legs for the final 15m and it felt to make a massive difference – but mainly in how tired I got! I don’t think that I could kick for a whole 400m, but I might have another go at the 100m and see if I can kick all the way. 1m 30 secs?

Of course, I need to get the 200, and then the 400 to keep the IGFF happy!

Wish me luck!

Success?

last week I had some setbacks. I had planned to have a swim after a diving session on Thursday evening, but disaster struck on an inward dive from the springboard. I slipped, lost my footing, and then my dodgy right leg gave way, leaving me sliding down the edge of the board on my left shin. Ow! It looked worse than it was (a mere flesh wound!) and there was sufficient blood oozing to get me kicked out of the pool. The local swimming club are called The Leeds Sharks, so it could’ve turned nasty.

Last night, with a thick layer of magic (but oh so painful to apply) spray on skin, I headed back to the Leeds pool. First to get revenge on the springboard, second, to get in a record breaking swim.

The diving went well. No accidents. The swim went ok. I warmed up for 200m at a gentle pace, then set off for a fast 400m. Sadly there were a few more people than usual in the pool, and they seemed to be spread throughout all the lanes. I left a big gap before setting off, but caught a swimmer after 120m. It was an awkward spot for overtaking, and to be honest, I think I’d set off too fast, so I eased off and finished at 200m. After a short rest I decided to go for the 100m sprint, just to see what time I could make on that.

I set off fast, but not really using my legs – just a quick single flutter kick on each arm stroke. The warm up had definitely helped, and I found that I was taking a breath every four strokes, rather than the usual three. I managed to keep plenty of space in the strokes, with a good stretch out on each arm. After the turn though, and especially towards the end, I was getting pretty tired and felt inefficient.

I finished right on 1 min 40 seconds. At the time I had no idea what the men’s 200m world record is, but now, with a bit of wiki research, I know that Phelps set the Olympic record in Beijing 2008 with a 200m freestyle time of 1 min 42.96 seconds. Paul Biederman set the current world record a year later with a time of 1min 42.00 seconds.

Half as Good? I set the challenge for 400m freestyle. I’m not sure if that is going to be harder or easier! Certainly harder in a busy pool! I’ll keep going during May, chasing the 200m and then the 400m, but for now, I’m waiting for the Half as Good challenge for this month to be ratified by the IGFF. (International Group of Facebook Friends)

Wish me luck!

Setting the pace

Well, the pool was open; the heating is working again. The only problem tonight was that the pool was set up for swimming widths instead of lengths. So the lanes were 25m long rather than 50m. Short course rather than long course. More turns means faster, or slower? I’m not sure for me. I didn’t go for very powerful kick offs, so I’m sure I didn’t benefit.

Anyway, I set off fairly fast and did 200m in 3mins 40 seconds exactly. Bang on the target time. I then continued and slowed a little, doing the next 200m in 4 mins 30 seconds. That gives 8 mins 10 seconds for the 400m, which puts me 4 seconds faster than Rebecca Adlington’s 800m.

During May I just need to shave off around 40 seconds and do it with the pool set up for 50m, and I’ll be half as good!

If I get really carried away, I can start training to do the 400m in the 1908 Olympic time of 5 mins 36 seconds… Now that would be a challenge!

A new month…

So…  The challenge has started a little late, but with renewed enthusiasm.  I now have a month to get this swim record, and I’m still really confident on this one.

I’ve got a diving class tonight, so after that session I’ll hop into the main 50m pool (assuming the heating is fixed now) and swim a slow 400m.  That will help me decide whether I’m anywhere near being able to go for the record attempt at 400m (for the 800m WR time), or just to stick with the shorter, and I think easier, 200m (for the 400m WR time).

The World Record for the 400m is 3 mins 40 seconds, set by Paul Biedermann in 2009, but Ian Thorpe has also swum the same time (I’m not interested in fractions of seconds!) at Manchester, and it was also the winning time in London 2012 (Sun Yang, China).

The 800m record is 7 mins 32 seconds, set by Zhang Lin, China.  I don’t think the men swam that distance at the Olympics recently, but, of course, the women’s record is held by Rebecca Adlington, GB with 8 mins 14 seconds.   I’d be quite happy with doing 400m in Rebecca’s 800m time!

Wish me luck!

Failure!

I was planning to grab the 200m freestyle swimming record tonight. I’ve not done any training and haven’t really swum in the last month but I thought that I could probably manage the 200m in less than the 3 mins 40 seconds which is the world record for 400m. Originally I was planning the 400m in the 800m time, but it would require a bit more training and stamina!

I’ve been doing some diving, so I do get some practice swimming back to the edge of the pool!

Tonight was diving night at the Leeds International Pool. The plan was to dive for an hour, then do a few lengths of warm up, and then the 4 lengths at ‘race speed’. I’d set this as the first challenge. To be completed in April.

Sadly, the pool was closed! The heater has packed up and the pool is only at 24 degrees. I’d be quite happy with 24 degrees. Might get a couple of seconds faster time with the water that cold. But they wouldn’t let me in. No chance of getting my record.

After a quick look for a local running track with 50m marked out (couldn’t even find a running track) and contemplating doing a 1m 23cm high jump onto the sofa (ceiling too low?), I’ve decided that the challenge isn’t starting in April at all. It will start in May, with a freestyle swimming record. 200m if I don’t get any practice, 400m if I do!

Wish me luck!