went to work for the first time since I had the latest bought of Covid, which is still affecting me (fatigue and chest) but thought it would be rude to miss my only swim opportunity these days, even though i didnt feel like it. I got through 500m before struggling to climb out. In hindsight the fly kick on back wasnt ideal in the WU and then starting the build with 25’s IM order.
Still 500m is better than 0m
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2km straight swim as part of my session today
Cruising rather than pushing
Nice negative splits after the first 200m
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When I was really going for it as a swimmer and thought extra cardio vascular work outs might increase my CV capacity I bought a Turbo Trainer. I hated it, even more than I disliked running.
As an aside, my running times (when I briefly took it up) and the speed my times were coming down, indicated I’d be a better middle distance runner than swimmer (I have long legs but smallish hands…) and my attitude to life is one should use any talent one is given. Thus I was delighted when my GP told me running would be bad for my knee (which had a piece of cartilage removed when I was a teenager) because it meant I could pack it in with honour !
What I find unusual about those times is almost always the third quarter is the slowest.
BTW, What is the point of negative splitting anything ? Surely consistent pace is more efficient ?
Not sure what you mean about the 3rd quarter.
As for even pace, it is the goal, but I’ll take a negative split over a positive one
so in a 200 its the 3rd 50, always the slowest part of a swim race, but in training it should be avoided as a trend as it could be form dropping so maybe shorter reps are the answer.
again in swim races you will never/rarely negative split due to the starts so Im guessing he’s coming from that angle . In training building through a rep is a good thing to add to some sessions to help learn pacing, to force you to go slower so form doesnt dip, to just tax the body differently
Call me a cynic about how beautiful those bridges are, but it speaks volumes that Chattanooga was voted best IM swim.
Yeah, South Africa will likely win next year.
Is it the one that’s like a lazy river scenario and you could pretty much float down the course in 70 minutes with the current without having to move your arms?
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That’s the one, the 35 min swim
Sounds ideal to me 
Someone i know from my old club was bragging how they had eventually cracked the hour due to hard work in the pool, i wasnt going to be that guy to point out that it was a downhill swim 
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Almost always the third quarter of a race or rep or series of reps, are the slowest. Mainly it’s psychological, one is getting tired but also knowing one still have a fair way to go. Most people rally for the last quarter, esp in a race, thinking I’m nearly home really, go for it, exhaust myself.
Why ?
Surely all that matters is the time ?
I certainly never go flat out in the first half !
Even if I should on 100s (when I use d to race them in Masters) ! !
Arguably, not being a natural sprinter, I should have gone flat out for the first 50 and then try and hang on.
Sign up to a Parkrun.
Run the first km like your life depends on it.
The remaining 4ks will leave you questioning your life decisions.
Negative splits dictate a good pacing strategy.
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Not when you have 180km of biking and 42km of running after.
Starting slower than my goal pace so I don’t go mad and then building into a nice cruise will set me up nicely for the remaining 9 hours
The swim in Frankfurt is always very busy until the Aussie exit after 1500m
Last year I had a reasonable postive split on the swim, despite coming in just under the hour.
This year, I’d like to be more comfortable for that second 2300m
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Certainly when they are prescribed as you have with a wild opening km…
But negative splits have potentially variable outcomes based on athlete and context and it is not as clear cut as it seems…
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It seems that after swim camp, I have upped my pace, but hit another plateau (albeit, 12+s faster than previously). I was hoping that the increase in pace that I saw would be a platform to build off. Swimming really nicely at 1:40-1:45 pace, but when I try to go faster it all falls appart. I clearly need to go on another swim camp
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