Workouts off the beaten path: April 1-5, 2013

Workouts for April 1-5, 2013

***If you prefer a formatted version of these workouts see PDF at bottom of page***

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
10 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
-breathe 3/5 by 25’s

Main Set-
1000 swim:

  • 25 easy/25 fast
    • 50 easy/50 fast
      • 75 easy/75 fast
        • 100 easy/100 fast
        • 100 easy/100 fast
      • 75 easy/75 fast
    • 50 easy/50 fast
  • 25 easy/25 fast

Drill Set-
10 x 50 @ 1:00 or r=15

  • 2 x 25 single-arm free/25 swim
  • 2 x 25 10-beat free/25 swim
  • 2 x 25 catch-up free/25 swim
  • 2 x 25 human stroke (“long dog”)/25 swim
  • 2 x 25 “10-10-3″/25 swim

Speed Set-
10 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=10
-25 easy/25 fast

Cool-down-
150 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday:  IM

Warm-up-
400 choice

Warm-up Set A-
8 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
-breathe 3/5 by 25’s

Warm-up Set B-
12 x 25 @ 45 or r=10
-25 kick/25 drill/25 swim

IM Set A-
4 x through (continuously):

  • 25 back
  • 25 fly
  • 25 back
  • 25 breast
  • 75 free

IM Set B-
4 x through:

  • 1 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=15
    • IM order
  • 1 x 100 IM @ 2:15 or r=30

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
400 choice

Warm-up Set-
16 x 25 @ r=10
-25 scull/25 pull

Main Set-

  • 8 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=15
    • descend times 1-4, 5-8
  • 8 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
    • all fast
  • 6 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=15
    • descend times 1-3, 4-6
  • 6 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
    • all fast
  • 4 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=15
    • descend times 1-4
  • 4 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
    • all fast
  • 2 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=15
    • descend times 1-2
  • 2 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
    • all fast

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday:  Swim Clinic

I received the following questions about cooling-down:

Is there some rule of thumb for cool-down distance/time?  Does it vary for age/Masters swimmers?  The purpose of such a long cool down is getting rid of lactic acid, right?

Unfortunately, there is not a ton of information to be found about this topic, but I did come across two excellent articles that address this swimmer’s questions.

Swimming and the Art of Recovery (http://nycaquaticclub.com/The Art of Recovery.pdf) provides information about five facets of optimal recovery, including a section on cooling-down.  Recommendations from this author, although not specific for masters swimmers, suggest:

  • 25 minutes of easy swimming (heart rate at 120-130 bpm) following a 50 or 100
  • 20 minutes of easy-moderate swimming (heart rate at 130-140 bpm) following a 200-500
  • 10-15 minutes of moderate swimming (heart rate at 140-150 bpm) following 500+

Top 10 Training Tips for Masters Swimmers by Peter Reaburn, PhD (http://assets.imgstg.com/assets/console/document/documents/Top 10…) argues that “we appear to need longer to recover and longer to adapt to training” which suggests that masters swimmers should, at minimum, heed the guidelines above.  That said one could end up cooling-down more than an average workout length.  My suggestion is to follow a race with some easy swimming, at least 10 minutes (that’s what I recommend to my age-group swimmers).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday:  Sprint-Based

Warm-up-
4 x 75 [25 drill/50 swim] @ r=10
6 x 50 [25 kick/25 swim] @ r=10

Warm-up Set-
12 x 25 @ r=5
-25 scull with flutter kick/25 build

Main Set-
3 x through:

  • 2 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=20
    • 50 DPS/25 build
  • 2 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
    • negative split
  • 2 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=10
    • fast
  • 1 x 100 swim @ 3:00 or r=60
    • easy

Cool-down-
400 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

April 1-5, 2013

Workouts off the beaten path: March 25-29, 2013

Workouts for March 25-29, 2013

***If you prefer a formatted version of these workouts see PDF at bottom of page***

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 25 scull with free kick @ r=5

Main Set-

  • 1 x 400 pull @ 6:30 or r=30
    • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
  • 16 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=5
    • every 4th 25 fast (max. 2 breaths)
  • 2 x 200 swim or pull @ 3:15 or r=15
    • push the pace on even 50’s
  • 8 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
    • descend times 1-4, 5-8
  • 4 x 100 pull @ 1:40 or r=10
    • descend times 1-4

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday:  IM

Warm-up-
400 swim

Warm-up Set-
3 x through:

  • 4 x 50 [25 drill/25 build] @ 1:05 or r=15
    • reverse IM order
  • 1 x 100 free @ 2:00 or r=30
    • 1st 1/3 of each length underwater

Main Set-
4 x through:

  • 3 x 75 swim @ 1:40 or r=20
    • 50 fly/25 back
    • 50 back/25 breast
    • 50 breast/25 free
  • 1 x 25 easy @ 1:00 or r=30

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
400 choice

Warm-up Set-
2 x through:

  • 2 x 50 [25 drill/25 build] @ r=10
  • 4 x 25 [DPS:  descend stroke count 1-4] @ r=10

Main Set-

  • 1 x 400 pull @ 7:00 or r=60
    • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
  • 4 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
    • descend times 1-4
  • 1 x 300 pull @ 5:15 or r=45
    • breathe 3/5/7 by 100’s
  • 3 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
    • descend times 1-3
  • 1 x 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
    • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 50’s
  • 2 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
    • descend times 1-2
  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
    • breathe 3/5/7/5 by 25’s
  • 1 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
    • moderate-hard effort

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday:  Swim Clinic

Last week I had the privilege of taking a team to the Senior Sectional meet in Federal Way, Washington (March 13-17).  The highlight, for many of us, was watching last Summer’s Olympic standout, Missy Franklin (Colorado Stars).  Here’s what I learned:

It’s all about the cool-downs.  Missy cooled-down after every swim.  She swam prelims and finals of 6 events, plus 4 relays:  that means 16 races, 16 cool-downs.  After her 100 backstroke final she swam 25 minutes, continuously; I know because I timed it!  Despite the ever-present group of swimmers wishing for photographs and signatures, Missy stuck to her habits and cooled-down.  That takes discipline.  I surmise that Missy’s cool-downs are probably longer than many swimmers’ warm-ups.

Her starts:  nothing fancy; it even seemed that she entered the water rather quicker than she needed to, like she could have spent more time in the air before entering the denser water.  However, once she entered the water her acceleration was noticeably quicker than any other swimmer.  The probable reason for this was streamlining.  Missy kept her body (fingers, hands, arms, head, torso, legs, feet, toes) in a tighter and straighter streamline than any other swimmer.

Her turns:  quick and efficient.  Her push-offs were horizontal, fast, and she usually surfaced about a body-length past the flags.  What was most amazing was her trajectory from the wall:  she pushed off horizontally and reached the surface gradually.  She appeared to swim (and turn) within an area not greater than 2 feet (i.e., from surface to 2-feet deep).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday:  Sprint-Based

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 75 @ 1:40 or r=15
-25 kick/25 drill/25 swim

Stroke Count Set-
12 x 25 swim @ 45 or r=15
#1:  relaxed pace, count strokes
#2:  faster pace, aim for same stroke count
#3:  fastest pace, aim for same stroke count

Recovery-
100 choice

Main Set-

  • 4 x 25 swim [max. effort] @ r=20
  • 1 x 200 swim [easy]
  • 4 x 25 swim [max. effort] @ r=20
  • 1 x 200 swim [easy]
  • 4 x 25 swim [max. effort] @ r=20

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 25-29, 2013

Workouts off the beaten path: March 18-22, 2013

Workouts for March 18-22, 2013

***If you prefer a formatted version of these workouts see PDF at bottom of page***

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
600 choice

Main Set-

  • 400 pull (DPS) @ 6:30 or r=30
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
    • faster-than-normal tempo
  • 2 x 200 pull (DPS) @ 3:20 or r=20
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
    • faster-than-normal tempo
  • 4 x 100 pull (DPS) @ 1:45 or r=15
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
    • faster-than-normal tempo
  • 8 x 50 pull (DPS) @ 55 or r=10
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
    • faster-than-normal tempo

Speed Set-
8 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=10
-25 easy/25 fast

Cool-down-
200 swim

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday:  IM

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 25 [25 scull/25 pull] @ r=5

IM Set A-
3 x through:

  • 25 fly @ 40 or r=10
  • 25 fly/25 back @ 1:10 or r=15
  • 25 fly/25 back/25 breast @ 1:40 or r=20
  • 100 IM @ 2:20 or r=30

Recovery-
100 choice

IM Set B-
3 x through:

  • 25 free @ 30 or r=10
  • 25 breast/25 free @ 1:00 or r=10
  • 25 back/25 breast/25 free @ 1:30 or r=10
  • 100 IM @ 2:30 or r=40

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
400 swim

Warm-up Set-
4 x through:

  • 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
  • 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=10

Main Set-
@ 20 seconds rest between swims:

  • 25
    • 50
      • 75
        • 100
          • 125
            • 150
              • 175
                • 200
                  • 300
                • 200
              • 175
            • 150
          • 125
        • 100
      • 75
    • 50
  • 25

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday:  Stroke

Warm-up-
200 swim
2 x 100 kick @ r=15
4 x 50 pull @ r=10
8 x 25 drill @ r=10

Main Set-

  • 4 x 150 swim @ 3:00 or r=20
    • 50 free/50 stroke/50 free
  • 4 x 100 swim @ 2:00 or r=20
    • 50 stroke/50 free
  • 4 x 75 swim @ 1:40 or r=20
    • 25 free/50 stroke
  • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=10
    • 25 stroke/25 free
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=10
    • stroke

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday:  Sprint-Based

Warm-up-
400 swim

Main Set-

  • 4 x 100 kick @ 2:40 or r=20
    • descend times 1-4
  • 8 x 25 kick @ 50 or r=20
    • full speed
  • 4 x 100 pull @ 1:50 or r=20
    • descend times 1-4
  • 8 x 25 pull @ 45 or r=20
    • full speed
  • 4 x 100 swim @ 1:50 or r=20
    • descend times 1-4
  • 8 x 25 swim @ 45 or r=20
    • full speed

Cool-down-
300 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 18-22, 2013

Workouts off the beaten path: March 11-15, 2013

Workouts for March 11-15, 2013

***If you prefer a formatted version of these workouts see PDF at bottom of page***

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 25 kick @ r=10
-build each 25 to fast feet

Main Set-
4 x through:

  • 400 swim @ 6:30 or r=30
    • descend times 1-4
  • 4 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=10
    • fast tempo
  • extra 30 seconds rest

Cool-down-
200 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday:  IM

Warm-up-
300 choice

Warm-up Set A-
6 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
-breathe 3/5 by 25’s

Warm-up Set B-
12 x 25 @ 45 or r=10
-25 kick/25 drill/25 swim

IM Set A-
4 x through (continuous):

  • 25 back
  • 25 fly
  • 25 back
  • 25 breast
  • 75 free

IM Set B-
4 x through:

  • 1 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=15
    • 1st round: fly
    • 2nd round: back
    • 3rd round: breast
    • 4th round: free
  • 1 x 100 IM @ 2:20 or r=30

Cool-down-
12 x 25 @ r=5
-1 x 25 scull with kick/2 x 25 swim

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
300 swim
4 x 50 [25 scull with free kick/25 swim] @ r=10

Main Set-
2 x through:

  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
  • 1 x 200 swim @ 3:30 or r=30
    • negative split
  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
  • 2 x 150 swim @ 2:30 or r=15
    • descend times 1-2
  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
  • 4 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
    • descend times 1-4

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday:  Stroke

Warm-up-
400 swim

Pull Set-
4 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
-breathe 3/5 by 25’s

Kick Set-
4 x 75 kick @ 2:00 or r=20
-build speed within each 75

Stroke Set A-
4 x 50 stroke drill @ 1:10 or r=15

Stroke Set B-
4 x 150 stroke @ 3:20 or r=30
-descend times 1-4

Breath Control Set A-
4 x 25 swim @ 50 or r=20
-3, 2, 1, 0 breaths!

Breath Control Set B-
400 swim:  fast in and out of turns, easy between

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday:  Sprint-Based

Warm-up-
200 swim
stretch for 2 minutes
200 swim [mix of strokes]
stretch for 2 minutes
200 kick [mix of strokes]
stretch for 2 minutes

Warm-up Set A-
8 x 50 @ 1:05 or r=10
-25 drill/25 swim

Warm-up Set B-
12 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=10
-build

Main Set-

  • 4 x 25 swim @ 1:00 or r=45
    • 100 race pace
  • 4 x 50 [25 drill/25 swim] @ 1:10 or r=20
    • moderate pace
  • 1 x 300 swim or pull @ 5:30 or r=60
    • easy pace
  • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:30 or r=45
    • 200 race pace
  • 4 x 25 drill @ 45 or r=15
    • moderate pace
  • 1 x 300 swim or pull
    • easy pace

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 11-15, 2013

Workouts off the beaten path: March 4-8, 2013

Workouts for March 4-8, 2013

***If you prefer a formatted version of these workouts see PDF at bottom of page***

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
300 swim
8 x 25 [drill/swim] @ r=10

Main Set-

  • 600 swim or pull @ 10:00 or r=60
    • moderate pace, remember time
  • 400 swim @ 6:40 or r=40
    • moderate pace, remember time
  • 200 swim or pull @ 3:20 or r=20
    • moderate pace, remember time
  • 200 swim or pull @ 3:20 or r=20
    • faster than previous 200
  • 400 swim @ 6:40 or r=40
    • faster than previous 400
  • 600 swim or pull @ 10:00 or r=60
    • faster than previous 600

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 3000

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday:  IM

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
-25 kick/25 drill
-2 each stroke

Main Set-
4 x through:

  • 1 x 100 IM @ 2:20 or r=30
  • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=10
    • 25 fly/25 back
    • 25 back/25 breast
    • 25 breast/25 free
  • 1 x 100 easy freestyle @ 3:00 or r=60

Cool-down-
100 swim

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

Warm-up-
400 choice

Warm-up Set-
8 x 25 @ r=5
-25 scull with free kick/25 swim

Main Set-

  • 1 x 300 pull @ 5:00 or r=30
    • 3 x 100 swim @ 1:40 or r=10
  • 1 x 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
    • 2 x 100 swim @ 1:35 or r=5
  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
    • 2 x 50 swim @ 50 or r=5
  • 1 x 300 pull @ 5:00 or r=30
    • 6 x 50 swim @ 55 or r=10
  • 1 x 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 50 or r=5
  • 1 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
    • 4 x 25 swim @ 25 or r=5

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 3100

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thursday:  Stroke

Warm-up-
300 swim
6 x 50 [25 kick/25 drill] @ r=10

Stroke Set A-
8 x 25 @ 45 or r=10
-25 stroke kick/25 stroke swim

Stroke Set B-
8 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
-25 stroke drill/25 stroke swim

Stroke Set C-
8 x 75 swim @ 1:40 or r=20
-50 stroke/25 easy free

Stroke Set D-
8 x 50 swim @ 1:05 or r=15
-25 stroke/25 free

Stroke Set E-
8 x 25 build @ 40 or r=10
-stroke

Cool-down-
100 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday:  Sprint-Based

Warm-up-
200 swim
200 kick
200 pull

Warm-up Set-
8 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
-breathe 3/5 by 25’s

Main Set-

  • 25 swim [hard effort] @ 40 or r=15
    • 50 swim [negative split] @ 60 or r=15
      • 75 swim [push last 25] @ 1:30 or r=15
        • 100 swim [negative split] @ 2:00 or r=20
          • 150 swim [push last 50] @ 2:30 or r=15
            • 200 swim [easy effort] @ 4:00 or r=30
          • 150 swim [push last 50] @ 2:30 or r=15
        • 100 swim [negative split] @ 2:00 or r=20
      • 75 swim [push last 25] @ 1:30 or r=15
    • 50 swim [negative split] @ 60 or r=15
  • 25 swim [hard effort] @ 40 or r=15

More Speed-
8 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
-25 easy/25 moderate-hard

Cool-down-
300 choice

Total = 2500

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 4-8, 2013