Today was a right old leg wobbler. The main set was a set of six (though I only manage five-and-a-half) 25/50M spring combinations. The last one was really good. I had intended to swim odds fly, and evens free, but third set just wasn't good. So we decided that that was enough fly (muscles definitely not recovered after yesterday). And the forth set was cut short with more rest for oxygen deprived body. However the last two were good, my 50M times were 29.8 and 29.1 (turned in 13.5). But what was good was my technique - I've been trying to get this high-elbow thing working and I can hold that style of technique (see earlier PB+x sets). However this degrades, through lack of practice/just learning as I pick up the pace.

Well on these final two sets I concentrated on trying to get my elbow higher in my catch, but I also concentrated on something else. Apparently when sprinting, after the first half length or so my stroke shortens dreadfully. But probably more importantly as it shortens (and I can feel this) I tighten up so exaserbating the issues. Well on these two final 25/50M repeats I also concentrated on pushing/thrusting my recovering hand forwards. This had quite a few possitive effects: firstly lengthed my stroke again; secondly helped my core/hip rotation and thirdly with this higher elbow catch it felt like I was anchoring and pulling myself over a huge wall of solid water - a feeling I don't get that often.

Now what was even better (getting carried away here) was that on the final repeat after a good turn my first (or was it second?) breathing stroke went horribly wrong (inhaling water), and I needed take two/three additional breaths on the next strokes!! So I know that the middle 10/12meters or so of the second length weren't good. And I still managed a 29-low.

But I was severly knackered afterwards!!

Warm Up:
1 x 400M EZ
8 x 50M free RI 10
swum (odds fast kick, evens swim with fast kick)
4 x 25M last ten "rocky" (fists windmilling like crazy)

Main Set:
6 x 25M (on 1:00) + 50M (on 2:00) fast

Warm Down:
1 x 100M EZ (ran out of time for anything else)