So i just got back from my second swim meet of the season...?

Question

and i am feeling pretty bad about my 100fr times. my best ever is probably around 1:03:5, but im not sure, i know that it is in the 1:03's tho. and at the meet today i got just above a 1:10!!!!!!! i dont understand whats wrong with me. my 50's are'nt that far off...maybe 1.5 seconds or so. does anybody have any tips to improve fast! i want to get under a min this year.

Answer 1

You can't compare best time (probably rested) to times from the first meet.  Here are some things that you can do to lower you times:

1) Streamline, streamline, streamline!  Biggest mistake people make is not having a good streamline.

2) Accelerate into and off of the walls.  The walls are not places to rest.  Use the walls to your adavantage.  You are never going faster than when you push off the wall.

3) In practice - push as hard as you can off of every wall to touch.  Your legs better be DEAD at the end of practice.

4) Control your breathing.  Don't breath from the flags to the wall or on the first stroke off of the wall.  

5) Build each 25.  You need to go out stong, but don't sprint from the start.  

6) FAST flip turns.  Get your feet to the wall as fast as possible.  Keep your arms close to your body.  Don't sprin your arms to try to flip faster.  It is all legs and abs.  

7) Don't miss practice.  Don't miss a single lap of practice.  Don't "take sets off".  Swim season is short.  

8) Work harder when you get tired.  You get faster when you push yourself when you are tired.  

Good luck.

Answer 2

Just keep practicing, maybe shave off any exposed hair, and try to be as smooth threw the water as possible, 100 freestyle was my favorite when i was on swim teams, you have to swim as fast as you can without thrashing threw the water, and where most loose valuable time is on the start and your turns so practice those to.

Answer 3

Here's the good news: there's absolutely nothing wrong with you. Everyone, even the best swimmers out there, swim more slowly than they usually do at the first couple meets of the year. This is because you are just getting back into training, and are sometimes a bit out of shape after a training break. Plus, your body is more tired since it hasn't been used to training on a daily basis. Be patient, and your times will drop to where they before, if not below!