Endurance is a critical component of fitness for triathletes and long-distance open water swimmers. This is a great session for triathletes and open water swimmers to do to build their top-end speed.
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.
The inspiration for today’s workout comes from Swim Workouts for Triathletes written by Gale Bernhardt and Nick Hansen.
Option A
- 300m WU;
- 200m K;
- 4x 150m (100m F/S, 50m K) 30sec RI;
- 400m Pull 60sec RI;
- 8x 25m (Desc 2-2-2-2) 15sec RI;
- 200m CD (1,900m)
Option B
- 300m WU;
- 200m K;
- 4x 200m (150m F/S, 50m K) 30sec RI;
- 600m Pull 60sec RI;
- 16x 25m (Desc 2-2-2-2) 15sec RI;
- 200m CD (2,500m)
Option C
- 300m WU;
- 200m K;
- 4x 300m (100m F/S, 100m K, 100m F/S) 30sec RI;
- 600m Pull 60sec RI;
- 16x 25m (Desc 2-2-2-2) 15sec RI;
- 200m CD (2,900m)
Start the workout with a Warm Up (WU) swimming 300m. During the warm-up feel free to stop and stretch as needed. It doesn’t need to be a continuous swim.
The next set is kicking for 200m, use some fins but avoid using a kick board.
The next set is made up of four reps of 150m (Option A), 200m (Option B), or 300m (Option C). These reps get split into different sub-reps that include both freestyle swimming and kicking. For Option A swim 100m Freestyle then straight into the last 50m kicking (as above without fins). For Option B swim 150m freestyle and then straight into the last 50m kicking (as above without fins). For Option C swim 100m freestyle, then 100m kicking (as above without fins), then finish with 100m freestyle. After each rep take a 30-second Rest Interval (RI).
The next set is 400m (Option A) or 600m (Option B or C) swum with a pull buoy. Take a 60-second Rest Interval (RI) prior to the next set.
The final set is made of eight (Option A) or sixteen (Option B or C) reps of 25m. These reps swim in a Descend 2-2-2-2 format. Swim two reps at a moderate pace, then two reps at a fast pace, then two reps at a faster pace, and then finally two reps at your FASTEST pace. If doing Option B or C repeat this process. take a fifteen-second Rest Interval (RI) between sets.
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.
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, here is a similar session I published 12 months ago.
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