Saturday Swim Session: Swim Speed Improver – Session 04

This session sees a focus on VO2 max intensity over both 100m and 50m to develop your maximum aerobic capacity. This workout is of benefit to all swimmers (including triathletes and open water swimmers – especially short course triathletes).

Each Saturday I will post a Swim Session, and 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. This weeks workout sees Options A & B, a little bit longer than they normally are.

Read this article here for an explanation of Swim Intensity.

This series of workouts were put together to help build the speed over shorter (50m & 100m) distances. Although the individual workout might not target pure speed over these distances they form part of an overall periodised plan to achieve that outcome.

Option A

  • 400 WU;
  • 12x 25 Drill;
  • 4x 100 30RI;
  • 100 Easy;
  • 10x 50 20RI;
  • 200 CD; (1,900)

Option B

  • 600 WU;
  • 12x 25 Drill;
  • 6x 100 30RI;
  • 200 Easy;
  • 12x 50 20RI;
  • 200 CD; (2,500)

Option C

  • 800 WU;
  • 16x 25 Drill;
  • 8x 100 30RI;
  • 400 Easy;
  • 12x 50 20RI;
  • 200 CD; (3,200)

For the Warm Up (WU) start with a 400m swim (Option A), 600m (Option B), or 800m (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. There are twelve (Options A & B) or sixteen (Option C) 25m repetitions of Drill. Feel free to use fins whilst doing this set.  Do the drills below three times (Options A & B) or four (Option C) times through:

  1. Kick On Side (KOS) left side 
  2. Kick On Side (KOS) right side 
  3. 6/1/6 
  4. 6/3/6

The first main set is made up of four (Option A), eight (Option B) or six (Option C) 100m reps, swim these as fast as you can sustain and take a 30-second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.

Next up swim easy for 100m (Option A), 200m (Option B) or 400m (Option C). Keep it nice and relaxed and focus on your technique.

The final set is a sprint set made up of ten (Option A) or twelve (Options B & C) reps of 50m. Swim these reps as fast as possible, taking a twenty second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.

For the Cool Down (CD) swim 200m. Unlike the previous sets which have to be freestyle, the Cool Down (CD) (like the Warm Up (WU)) 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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