An Eddie Reese Challenge: 20x50s Fly on :35

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo Photography

By Remedy Rule, Swimming World College Intern

With 37 consecutive conference titles and 12 national titles, Eddie Reese has built an unparalleled program at the University of Texas. At last year’s NCAAs, Reese’s team added to the rich history of Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving, qualifying an unprecedented six swimmers into the 100 fly A Final.

Known for his unconventional practices such as the Eddie Reese Invitational, where swimmers compete in odd distances like 300s of stroke, a 600 IM, and a 2,000 freestyle, Reese’s fly sets are no exception. The 20x50s fly on :35 challenges distance swimmers and sprinters alike both physically and mentally.

Joseph Schooling, NCAA record holder and 2012 Olympian for Singapore, Kaitlin Pawlowicz, four time NCAA qualifier and two time Olympic Trials qualifier, and Michael McBroom, USA national team member and University of Texas record holder in distance free, weigh in with their opinions of the grueling set.

Q&A with the Longhorns

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Swimming World: How many times have you swam the 20x50s fly on :35?

Joseph Schooling: Twice.

Kaitlin Pawlowicz: I think I’ve done it two or three times, I can’t quite remember.

Michael McBroom: I’ve done it too many times now. I think six times, once a year.

SW: When is the set toughest mentally?

JS: Probably at number 15 because that’s when you start to hurt pretty badly.

KP: I would say that the set is most mentally tough before you hit number 10. After 10 it’s completely downhill and I try to focus on one 50 at a time.

MM: The first eight seems like a real barrier to me for some reason. Then I kind of go numb and stop thinking about it.

SW: What do you feel you get out of it?

JS: Nothing really physically. It’s more the mental aspect.

KP: It can help your metal toughness because I look back and think “Yeah I’ve done that! What else am I capable of?” It’s also fun and a type of team building in a way. We do the set in heats, so you are able to cheer others on before or after you complete the set.

MM: It is something different and refreshing. So I think the biggest thing for me is a nice mental reset in the middle of Christmas training (which is when we usually do the set).

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

SW: Do you think Schooling should have to go on :30?

KP: Nah, I think that having everyone do the same interval adds to the team camaraderie aspect.

MM: NO, do you know how much he’d whine about being the only one that has to do that?

SW: Do you think you should have to go on :30?

JS: Absolutely not. It’s no use going on :30.

SW: How has your approach to the set changed from the first time to the most recent time?

JS: I can better prepare for it now because I know what to expect.

KP: The first time I did the set I was a sophomore and I was really nervous; I just decided on a whim to do it. Carol (Capitani) said, “You can do this other set fast with D-Group or you can do the 20X50s fly @ :35 with the guys.” Since the 50s set finished a lot quicker, in my mind I was thinking “Oh yeah, I get to be done early!” I didn’t really think about the set until I was about to push off the wall and realized “Shoot… I have to do this….” The next few times I was pretty calm because I knew that I had completed the set before.

MM: My approach has actually been the same every time. My teammates my sophomore year Michael Kleuh and Jackson Wilcox told me to take the first few as easy as possible and then descend from there when you want more rest. It’s worked each time so I’m not changing my strategy.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

SW: How do the 20x50s compare to other Eddie Reese sets?

JS: It’s a pretty good set. I’d say its up there with a couple of other sets. Specifically, I like his 3×100 on 4:00, 4×75 on 3:00, and 5×50 on 2:00, all best average.

KP: Eddie does a couple challenge sets like this one. One of the others is a 2,000 for time.

MM: I actually love the 20x50s fly day. It is a relatively short practice for me and, since everyone goes in their own lane, once we finish we get to hop out and watch the next group go. There are always some good laughs watching some people’s strokes evolve from a perfect butterfly to a one arm fly with what has morphed into a breaststroke kick somehow. Trust me, it’s not pretty, but it’s always funny.

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26 Comments

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Eddie Ring

7 years ago

My age group coach used to make us swim timed 1650’s fly. Talk about a great way to form terrible habits.

LJ Seevers

7 years ago

Love Eddie Reece!!! He knows the deal.

Randy Rogers

7 years ago

Ouch.

Franco Sam October

7 years ago

William Benson Joshua Greening Jon Karlsson Nick Macky Paolo Gabriels

Joshua Greening

7 years ago

Reply to Franco Sam October

Oooooo i dont even think il hold with fins haha

Karney McNear

7 years ago

Caleb Black John Carroll

Chris Rock-kins

7 years ago

Matt Storey

7 years ago

Reply to Chris Rock-kins

50 yards in a short course pool.

Wouldn’t have even qualified as a warm up.

Chris Rock-kins

7 years ago

Reply to Chris Rock-kins

Haha 100% I’ll take this set on free at some point

Matt Storey

7 years ago

Reply to Chris Rock-kins

Long course metres – would be great for the 1500m. Though if we get to 12×50 on 35 id like to see you go to 100’s on 1.08 or 1.07.5 – trying to get to 8.