1st 100 yd euphoria

matthewbward

I don't know if this is just me or not, but does anyone else have the phenomen of having your first 100 in the pool go way faster than subsequent 100s?  For me, I get a +10 sec boost even though I'm trying to swim easy.  I can't imagine my form is decaying that quickly even though that seems like what's happening.  This happen to anyone else?

[Deleted User]

It happens to me every time! Someone told me I am probably not exhaling enough so my breathing gets progressively harder. But even changing that, I still have subsequent slower times. Same thing with 200s. My first 50 feels really easy and is typically the fastest 50 of the 200. Hope someone has the magic answer to this:-)

Paul Scholz

 so when I was swimming in college and with masters, there were a coupl of things we would do to address this: 

1. Length of you rest periods -- if you are resting too short or going to hard, then your times will get progressively slower.
2. Breathing as mentioned -- which happens as you get into oxygen debt.

Two things we used to do that help -- hypoxic breathing sets and longer rest periods.

Do a Hypoxic breathing set -- 3 x 200 ('30), breathing 3,5,3,7 x 50 (or 3,5, 7, 9) where you breath every 3rd, 5th, 7th, or 9th stroke. This forces you to smooth out your stroke and swim in oxygen debt, so when you are doing straight 50, 100, or 200 sets the breathing is not the issue. This is not a speed set, but a swim and breath mechanics set.

Do sets with longer rest intervals -- 10 x 100 ('45-'60); or leave on an interval that gives you longer breaks. The other alternative is doing 10x100 w/50 ('30) where you go hard for the 100, then swim a recovery 50, then rest 30'.

Of course you could also just work hard to slow yourself down by focusing REALLY hard on just a part of your stroke for the first 50 (catch, pull, recovery, or body roll).

my two cents

MattAaronson

@ Matthew - sorry, just saw this post. I have the EXACT same issue. I think it has something to do with the muscular nature of swimming...i.e. generating power with your arms is much easier when fresh in that first 100. To a lesser degree I have the same issue on the first 25-50 yards of every set after a recovery.