Swimming, Thoughts

Tips for the 200 Fly

Swimming butterfly is hard, and uses up a lot of strength to finish, and the 200 is the most brutal (because it’s the longest).

Here’s the stuff I learned trying to master the 200 fly:

  • Butterfly is cruel, as you get tired, your technique starts to melt. Your hips start to sink, your arms don’t extend all the way, and you end up using more energy to swim (which is counter-productive). So once you start getting tired, your out of luck, sorry.
  • Bad technique is the #1 most energy sapping part of butterfly (and kills your time).
  • Unlike the 100 Fly, the 200 should not be swum fast at the beginning. Instead, you need to build into the stroke. Going to fast on the first 100 will make you tired, and once your tired…
  • Consistency matters! Taking an extra dolphin kick in your stroke, might give you that relaxing second of relief. However, that is like putting on the brakes, and starting again, another energy waster.
  • Breathing technique? Meh. Michael Phelps breaths every stroke on his first 100 of his race, and it makes sense too. Taking breaths will make sure your second 100 isn’t going to be worse than it already is.
  • Recovery saves the day. What I used to do was to rush the recovery part, but the recovery should be relaxed, that quarter second of rest adds up (especially in a meter pool).
  • The best swimmers are almost always the best kickers.
  • ***** The 200 Fly is a huge mental race, everyone will be tired at the 100 mark, and if you can push through, you will go faster ******
  • It is only a 2-3 minute swim, relax. A meet is usually more than 5 hours long. Put stuff into perspective.
  • Don’t swim events before the 200 fly, unless you are just good at not being tired after races (in which you should try harder). The event before the 200 will hurt it, no matter what.

 

 

Oh, and of course, have the good swimming genes (taller, longer arms, longer legs, big hands)….

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