Speed is also a critical success factor for Channel swimming. As I approach the coast of France, the currents will be at their strongest. At this point, I will be tired, dehydrated and mentally exhausted. The last thing I want to happen is for the current to push me back out into the middle of the Channel. I will be counting on my speed and stroke efficiency to counteract these forces. Another example of where speed can assist me in my attempt is in swimming clear of the 700 or so large ships that cruise up and down the Channel lanes. To this end, I have been training hard in the pool with the Okaganan Masters Swim Club.
Maintaining pace times and "negative splitting" (i.e. swimming the second half a set distance faster than the first half) is an important aspect of my training. This entails swimming against the clock. In other words, I use the clock to pace my speed over a set distance. You can swim all the distance in the world, but unless you learn to pace yourself for speed, don't expect to set any records in the pool or open water for that matter. The Australian National swim team figured this out long ago and it reflects in their results on the international stage.
Maintaining pace times and "negative splitting" (i.e. swimming the second half a set distance faster than the first half) is an important aspect of my training. This entails swimming against the clock. In other words, I use the clock to pace my speed over a set distance. You can swim all the distance in the world, but unless you learn to pace yourself for speed, don't expect to set any records in the pool or open water for that matter. The Australian National swim team figured this out long ago and it reflects in their results on the international stage.
In addition to crossing the Channel, I have been training to break the 18:00 barrier for 1500 m freestyle. To achieve this, I need to hold 1:12 per 100 meters of freestyle swimming. Last year, I performed this swim in 18:20. The BC record for this distance is 17:44 set by former Olympic medalist Ralph Hutton--a pioneer for the sport of Masters swimming in BC. If there was any time in my Masters swimming career that I could have a shot at this record, now is that time. Breaking 17:44 requires that I hold a 100 m pace interval of 1:10-1:11. To attain this, I have been performing sets of 100 metre distances holding 1:10s on a total interval of 1:45. In other words, I am swimming at race pace with at least 35 seconds rest between 100s.
My hard work paid off........I set the new record for BC mens 40-44 age group in a time of 17:38!! This has given me a lot of confidence with which I will channel toward my big swim.
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