Speed Cap?

[Seagurl51]

Sorry if this is :dedhorse: , but I was wondering if there is such thing as a speed cap. A point where you just aren't going to get any faster. I know that's what happens with walls, but is there a point when you hit a permanent wall? I'm in decent enough shape (working on getting in better) and I've been told I have good technique, I just can't ever seem to get the speed I want. I recently took about 6 months off so I know that's a factor, but even when I've swam regularly for an extended amount of time my progress seems to cap at a certain point. Is it worth trying to gain the speed or should I just accept my fate in the slow lane? Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!:notworthy:

[Rob Copeland]

Is it worth trying to gain the speed or should I just accept my fate in the slow lane?It all depends on what you are willing to do to gain the speed…
Increase the intensity of your workouts
Swim 2 a days
Lift weights
Perfect that good stroke
Take supplements

I believe that practically every swimmer could be faster, it all depends on what you are willing to sacrifice to achieve this. Most of us have some flaws in our strokes which can be corrected to improve efficiency/speed. Spending time in the weight room to increase core and limb strength will help. More quality water time definitely helps.

[The Fortress]

SeaGurl:

Take a look at Ande's thread entitled "What do YOU need to do to have a major breakthrough in swiming?"

[born2fly]

Like others I believe it is what you put into your training which will prepare you to swim faster. I have been back in the water for 4 yrs and each year I have gotten faster. For example, in my 200 fly first year back I did 2:03, 2nd yr 2:00, 3rd year 1:59 and last yr 1:57.

Over the years I have changed things up, First year was strickly swimming, 2nd year I began doing the dryland core work, past 2 yrs I have now added a weight training program. This year I still do weights and core work but have also added running 3 miles a day on the treadmill (and I hate running!). My goal this year in 200 fly is 1:55.

One thing that I do is I pretty much swim the same meets every year during the same time. So I use it as a base where if I am faster at my first meet than last year then Im ahead of schedule, and if Im slower at meet, its time to work a little harder in and out of the pool.

Greg

[scyfreestyler]

I have reached a speed cap...for the amount of training I am able to invest into my swimming. As far as an ultimate speed cap? Sure, there has to be. Brendan Hansen will not be able to continue taking tenths off of his times forever. He will eventually reach a point where he either maintains or he slows down a bit. Aside from any specific swimmer, there will come a time where records are just not broken anymore. I don't foresee anybody swimming a 50 SCY Free in 15 seconds, in fact it is probably not humanly possible.

So yes, there is a speed cap. I have to say that when I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be about a swim cap that was going to make me swim faster. Shucks!

[FlyQueen]

SCY - me too! I thought it was about that cap Speedo tries to promote from time to time.

Kyra, sweetie, you have to swim, and swim regularly to see improvement. By regularly I mean 4 or more times a week and decent yardage with speed work and technique work mixed in - endurance, kicking, etc. You need to do this for long periods of time (years, not weeks).

You need to swim fast in practice to swim fast in meets. You need to do a full taper, shave, and get a fast suit. I'm guessing you would see improvement.

As far as technique goes, you can ALWAYS improve that. Your beloved Mike works on that all the time.

[FlyQueen]

I have reached a speed cap...for the amount of training I am able to invest into my swimming. As far as an ultimate speed cap? Sure, there has to be. Brendan Hansen will not be able to continue taking tenths off of his times forever. He will eventually reach a point where he either maintains or he slows down a bit. Aside from any specific swimmer, there will come a time where records are just not broken anymore. I don't foresee anybody swimming a 50 SCY Free in 15 seconds, in fact it is probably not humanly possible.

So yes, there is a speed cap. I have to say that when I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be about a swim cap that was going to make me swim faster. Shucks!


Matt, I wonder when we (okay the elite) just won't be able to go any faster, too. I can't see any one going 1:00 for a 200 free. But I do love watching those guys go faster and faster. It's amazing!

[Seagurl51]

I'll have you know Ms. Heather I've joined the team here (Masters) finally and have been swimming regularly and doing yoga 3 times a week. so :thhbbb: (ps. glad to know you're alive!) I agree I do need to do more than what I"m doing to see improvements, I just haven't been able to right now. I'll keep working on technique, I think I'm about to hit a wall. My muscles are not co-operating and I can feel my technique starting to slip. And my fly always needs work.......


It'll be interesting to see the overall human speed cap come into play. In my opinion I dont' think it's to far away. I think records are going to have to go to even smaller measures of time if they want to see them keep being broken.

Thanks everybody for the tips!!

[geochuck]

The only speed cap I know of was Dexadrine it came in several sizes of capsules. A couple of marathon swimmers used them and used 45 to 60 mg a race. They were much younger than me and they are both dead. Opps wrong kind of speed cap???

[fanstone]

The perception of speed versus the cold numbers of the stopwatch...Sometimes I swim well, sometimes I don't swim well, as I perceive it. But for the short distance of 50 meters, short or long course, my time stays within a second, has stayed for the last two years. My coach says maybe if I lose 20 lbs I might get rid of a second. The longer the race the more you can improve, but your brute force, your true swimming potential, as measured for the 50 meters or 50 yards is pretty much what you got, what you were born with. Some will disagree, but how much can you improve truly? Regards, billy fanstone.

[geochuck]

It is surprising how fast you can go without losing weight. A little tweeking in technique can drop your time. Eg. faster turnover, to increase speed it may just be adding something like explosive breathing and less breathing. Holding your breath for a few more strokes and explosive breath just before you breathe in. How much air do you need when swimming a 50. A change in your dive, making a smaller hole when you enter, better streamline, popping up from your dive and powering it. More streamlined turn a few more dolpin kicks from your dive and turn.

[Muppet]

Swimming is a very mental sport. The more you think of how you're hitting walls and speedcaps, the more you're unknowingly psyching yourself out. Also, if you think your practice speed isn't getting any faster, its ok - cause practice speed isn't race speed.

Now is a great time of year to change your mental attitude towards your training! Set some goals - short term (aka, for a couple meets in say dec, jan/feb, and mar) and long term (zones/nationals in april/may). In the words of Chubbs from Happy Gilmore, find your "Happy Place" for your meets, have fun when you swim, and by all means, kick some butt!!!

[The Fortress]

Muppet:

Quite right about the mental part. You should always focus on what can help you go faster rather than dwelling on whether you will go faster. I already know my SCY turns stink, so I have something I know I can improve on.

Greg:

When you're charting your progress, are you comparing the first meet of last year to the first meet of this year? Or are you saying that you should go faster in your first meet of the season that you did at your last (probably championship) meet of the previous season? The latter would seem a bit hard to me if you've tapered or prepared for a big meet.

[born2fly]

I chart my meets from first meet this year and compare how I did at same meet last year. If Im faster this year then Im ahead of pace from last year.

For short course season I taper twice a year. My first taper will be middle of December where I taper with the USS team I train with. Second taper will either be for short course masters nationals or USS Sectional swim meet held around the same time.

greg

[The Fortress]

Ok. That makes me feel better. I just swam my first meet of the SC season. My times were faster than the same meet last year, but a bit slower than nationals from last spring. I'm not sure if it's due to my training though, or just having more experience at meets.

Running on a treadmill?! Yuck. Go outside. Find a nice trail. It makes running so much more fun.

[born2fly]

Well, my treadmill faces a wall mural of the woods, does that count :D I really prefer treadmill over running outside. I like to watch the clock and distance on treadmill. Plus, its easier for me to hit the treadmill with 2 kids, 2 dogs and the boss of the household. I spend enough time at the pool I do not need to spend more time away from the family :-)

Greg

[BillS]

Keep an eye on Rich Abraham's times. He should provide the answer to the 50 free question.

[newmastersswimmer]

Seriously, though, how old will you be before you can't improve in the 200 fly anymore?

posted by Allison Leslie Fortress Inc.

Ask Dennis Baker that question.....He's still putting in times in the 2:06 ish range for the 200 meter longcourse butterfly at the ripe old age of 45 I believe. There are also older swimmers like Trip Hedrick (0ver 50) and Rich Abrahams (over 60) that can still put in a pretty fast 100 fly as well.

Newmastersswimmer

[The Fortress]

yep, they're still fast. But can they keep improving every single year?

[scyfreestyler]

Simple answer is no. When these people are in their 70's they will be training to slow the slipping of their times, not to become faster. They will probably be the best in their age group but their times will no longer be lifetime bests. We are humans, not machines. We age and deteriorate over time.

[born2fly]

I do not know how much more I can drop in the 200 fly. However I still think I have not reached my potential yet. A lot is based on my training and the outside factors which sometimes put training on the back burner. I am trying to defy age for a few more years and hope I do get faster. Its that ole saying, "the body achieves what the mind believes". Of course you gotta have the training to back that up.

As for the 50 free, Im not really a sprinter but could not see myself getting much faster in that event. I never was a sprinter always 200 type of guy but last year I have slowly started to convert to dark side of distance.

Happy Halloween,
Greg

[The Fortress]

Simple answer is no. When these people are in their 70's they will be training to slow the slipping of their times, not to become faster. They will probably be the best in their age group but their times will no longer be lifetime bests. We are humans, not machines. We age and deteriorate over time.


SCY freestyler:

So the speed cap doesn't hit until the 70s?! LOL. Gee, I don't think I'll be going my current 50 free time then. I was thinking there was a bit of a slide with each increasing age group. Now maybe when they come out with the fastskin III++ ...

Greg:

I commend you for going after that 200 fly. I used to like that event eons ago. I wouldn't attempt it now. Except with fins.

[scyfreestyler]

SCY freestyler:

So the speed cap doesn't hit until the 70s?! LOL. Gee, I don't think I'll be going my current 50 free time then. I was thinking there was a bit of a slide with each increasing age group. Now maybe when they come out with the fastskin III++ ...

.

I didn't want to choose a younger age and be proven wrong by these waterborne superheroes! For most of us the slowdown will likely occur decades before that.

[geochuck]

The Fortress and scyfreestyler

I only feel like 60 so I have at least 10 years.