Combining the longer 250m reps with 25m sprints to finish this workout will see you finishing your races strong. This session is perfect for Ironman and Olympic distance triathletes or people doing longer Ocean Swims.
Each Saturday I will post a Swim Session, most weeks I will load three options up for you to do. Option A is for swimmers who are after a workout between 1,000 & 2,000 metres. Option B is for swimmers who are after a workout between 2,000 & 3,000m and Option C will be greater than 3,000m.
Option A
- 200m WU;
- 8x 50m Drill/Swim;
- 4x 250m Build 1-4 40sec RI;
- 8x 25m SPRINTS 10sec RI;
- 200m CD (2,000m);
Option B
- 600m WU;
- 8x 50m Drill/Swim;
- 6x 250m Build 1-3 40sec RI;
- 8x 25m SPRINTS 10sec RI;
- 200m CD (2,900m);
Option C
- 1,000m WU;
- 8x 50m Drill/Swim;
- 8x 250m Build 1-4 40sec RI;
- 8x 25m SPRINTS 10sec RI;
- 200m CD (3,800m);
Start the workout with a Warm Up (WU) covering 200m (Option A), 600m (Option B), or 1,000m (Option C). During the warm-up feel free to stop and stretch as needed. It doesn’t need to be a continuous swim.
Next up is a drill set of eight repetitions of 50m Drill/Swim, where you do a drill for the first 25m of the repetition and then normal swimming for the next 25m swimming. Feel free to use fins whilst doing the drill/swim set. Do the drills below twice through:
I wrote an article about swimming drills previously. Click here to read and watch it.
Coach Ray’s Top 3 Swimming Drills to Get You Swimming Smooth
After the set of drills takes the fins off.
The first main set is made up of four (Option A), six (Option B), or eight (Option C) repetitions of 250m. After each repetition take a 30-second Rest Interval (RI). Build your pace from each rep as you make your way through the workout. For Option A Build 1-4, for Option B Build 1-3, and for Option C Build 1-4. Start off with a moderate effort for the first rep, then a fast rep for the second rep, and a faster rep for the third rep. If you are doing Option B, return to a moderate effort for the fourth rep and then build through the fifth and sixth reps. For Options A and C on your fourth rep swim this at your fastest pace and then with Option C for your fifth rep return to a moderate pace and build your pace again over each rep as you build towards the final rep.
For the next set complete eight 25m sprints, and take a ten-second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.
For the Cool Down (CD) swim 200m. Unlike the previous sets which have to be freestyle, the cooldown (like the warm-up) can be any stroke you wish to swim. You can also stop and rest after any length. I encourage you to stop and stretch during the cool-down.
You can repeat this session in a few weeks’ time and track your progress by measuring how much faster you are now swimming the distance.
If you would like further advice feel free to contact me.
I am the Head Coach & Director of Qwik Kiwi Coaching.
I specialise in assisting first-timers and recreational athletes to achieve their sporting goals. I can be contacted at coachray@coachray.nz and 021 348 729.
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If you enjoyed this workout, I published a similar session 12 months ago.
Saturday Swim Session – How to Use Broken 200s to Make You Faster
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