After swimming my local open water race Viikinsaaren ympäriuinti I was comparing myself to the athletes competing in Paris. I was happy with my result, 8th overall and fastest person over 30.
As a swimming nerd I did some mathematics afterwards.
My average pace was 1.34 per 100m for 2100m. Not bad! But the winner Henriika swam 1.23 per 100m. So I have some training to do to win next time. Comparing myself to the swimmers at the Olympics is sobering. The 1500m record was broken by Bobby Finke in 14.30.67 which is a pace of 58 seconds per 100m. Even at a total sprint i can’t hold that pace for 100m maybe for 50m at a full sprint. He swam at an average of 79 strokes per minute. When watching on tv the 1500m swimmers look like they are swimming slowly with a long glide but it is an optical illusion after you’ve been watching the fastest swimmers in the world at shorter distances. I managed 63 strokes per minute. So if I was able to up my stroke rate without losing power I'd get closer.
So if I swim at 46 seconds per 50m with a rate of 30 per 30 sec. That gives me a rate of 1 stroke per second and my stroke length is 2.20m. So for me to swim at a world record pace I need to swim at a rate of 94 strokes per minute. Crazy fast.
So the fastest swimmers in the Olympics swim with longer (2.63m) strokes but at a much higher rate 63 vs 78.
When I am teaching or coaching the first priority is increasing stroke length by either improving glide or strength but when it comes to going fast swimmers need to maintain that length and strength at a high rate.
Alongside drills we have a game called Swolf (swimming golf) where you swim a distance (50m) and count your strokes and take the time. A time of 50 seconds and 50 strokes (100) is achievable. The purpose is to reduce the total. It is a way of measuring progress beyond just distance and time. How you achieve this is the art and science of coaching.
- Andy
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