The Third 50 - E5 - The Need for Speed!!

The Third 50 - E5 - The Need for Speed!!

Author: Glenn Mills & Wayne Goldsmith March 21, 2023 Duration: 1:05:19

Welcome to The Third 50!

EPISODE 5 - WE HAVE A NEED - A NEED FOR SPEEEEEEEEEEEED!


Speed is the most precious thing in swimming. It's what it's all about! The training, the sets, the repeats, the workouts, the dryland sessions, the mental skills practices, the equipment...everything we do in this sport is about the achievement of one, clear, simple thing - to go faster!


In Episode 5 of The Third 50, Wayne and Glenn look at the development of swimming speed through the context of our TEN SWIMMING SPEED LAWS!


SWIMMING SPEED LAW 1 - The faster you want to go, the more relaxed you have to be.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 2 - There’s a big difference between speed and effort.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 3 - Technique and Speed are inseparable!

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 4 - Train Speed – fast!!! Not at the end of an endurance workout

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 5 - 100% is Speed – less than 100% isn’t.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 6 - Underwater kicking is vital.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 7 - Long rest, short duration.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 8 - Excellence repeated – not just repeats.

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 9 - TEACH, TRAIN, TEST – REPEAT!

SWIMMING SPEED LAW 10 - It’s’ about speed – not the length of the repeat.


Three Takeaways:

  1. Speed is everything! The search for ways to help swimmers, triathletes, masters swimmers, surf-athletes and fitness swimmers to swim faster is never ending.
  2. There are some important principles to understand in the development of swimming speed that apply to everyone who is trying to identify ways of swimming faster - our TEN SWIMMING SPEED "LAWS".
  3. The sport is getting faster! This means that training for speed has become by necessity more deliberate, more purposeful and more precise. Just throwing in a set of 25s at the end of workout and hoping this will help athletes swim faster is not an efficient or effective way to develop real speed.

Why The Third 50?

Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.


Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.


Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.


Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith have spent their lives in and around the pool, and in their The Third 50 podcast, they dive into the conversations that happen after the stopwatch is put away. Named for the most grueling leg of a 200-meter race, this series explores what it truly takes to push through when everything hurts and the finish line still feels far away. Each episode feels like a candid chat between two seasoned experts, moving fluidly between the granular details of stroke technique and the broader, essential themes of athlete wellness and mental resilience. You’ll hear them unpack coaching philosophies, analyze the psychological demands of competition, and share stories that reveal the human side of high-performance swimming. It’s more than just tips for faster times; it’s about building the toughness required for that critical third fifty in a race and, by extension, in sport and life. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded perspective that only decades of direct experience can provide, making this podcast a unique resource for swimmers, coaches, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of physical mastery and mental fortitude.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 18

The Third 50
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 17:33
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the impact of the new 50-meter sprint events on swimming, particularly at the Olympics. Wayne shares insights from a meeting with Bill Sweetenham, emphasizing the positive opportunities for…
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Duration: 1:00:26
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Duration: 57:25
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Duration: 1:02:44
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The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better! Some coaches have been coaching for 20 years. The question is - do you really have 20 years of experience - or do you have 1 year of experience….20 times over. Humans…