Monthly Archives: May 2014

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Workouts off the beaten path: June 2-6, 2014

Workouts for June 2-6, 2014

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

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 400 choice
  • Main Set-
    • 500 pull @ 8:00 or r=30
      • breathe 3/5/3/5/3 by 100’s
    • 10 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
      • descend times 1-5, 6-10
    • 400 pull @ 6:30 or r=30
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
    • 8 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
      • descend times 1-4, 5-8
    • 300 pull @ 5:00 or r=30
      • breathe 3/5/3 by 100’s
    • 6 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
      • descend times 1-3, 4-6
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 3000

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

Tuesday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 400 swim
    • 4 x 50 kick @ r=10
      • 1 of each stroke
  • Main Set-
    • 2 x through:
      • 4 x 25 fly @ 45 or r=15
        • 25 drill/25 swim
      • 2 x 100 IM @ 2:15 or r=30
      • 4 x 25 back @ 45 or r=15
        • 25 drill/25 swim
      • 2 x 100 IM @ 2:15 or r=30
      • 4 x 25 breast @ 45 or r=15
        • 25 drill/25 swim
      • 2 x 100 IM @ 2:15 or r=30
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 choice

Total = 2500

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

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 12 x 25 [25 scull/25 pull] @ r=5
  • Main Set-
    • 2 x through (pace gets faster as distance gets shorter):
      • 300 swim @ 5:00 or r=30
        • 2 x 150 swim @ 2:45 or r=20
          • 4 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=20
            • 6 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
              • extra 30 seconds rest
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 choice

Total = 3000

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

Thursday:  Stroke

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 200 [25 10-beat free/25 free]
    • 200 pull
  • Short-axis Drill Set A-
    • 8 x 25 @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 2 kicks, 1 pull breast/25 breast
      • 25 4-beat fly/25 fly
      • repeat sequence
  • Swim Set A-
    • 2 x 300 swim @ 5:30 or r=30
      • 100 free/100 stroke/100 free
  • Short-axis Drill Set B-
    • 8 x 25 @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 cobra/25 breast
      • 25 single-arm fly/25 fly
      • repeat sequence
  • Swim Set B-
    • 4 x 150 swim @ 3:00 or r=20
      • 50 free/50 stroke/50 free
  • Short-axis Drill Set C-
    • 8 x 25 @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 3-up, 3-down breast/25 breast
      • 25 1-1-1 fly/25 fly
      • repeat sequence
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 swim

Total = 2500

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

Friday:  Speed

  • Warm-up-
    • 400 choice
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 6 x 75 @ 1:40 or r=20
      • 25 drill/25 DPS/25 build
  • Main Set-
    • 1 x 150 free @ 3:00 or r=30
      • moderate pace
    • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=20-30
      • descend times 1-3
    • 2 x 75 free @ 1:30 or r=15
      • moderate pace
    • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=20-30
      • descend times 1-3
    • 3 x 50 free @ 1:00 or r=10
      • moderate pace
    • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=20-30
      • descend times 1-3
    • 2 x 75 free @ 1:30 or r=15
      • moderate pace
    • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=20-30
      • descend times 1-3
    • 1 x 150 free @ 3:00 or r=30
      • moderate pace
    • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=20-30
      • descend times 1-3
  • Cool-down-
    • 150 swim

Total = 2500

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

June 2-6, 2014

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Workouts off the beaten path: May 26-30, 2014

Workouts for May 26-30, 2014

***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
    • 100 drill
  • Pull Set-
    • 8 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
      • breathe 5/3 on odd 50’s
      • breathe 3/5 on even 50’s
  • Main Set-
    • 20 seconds rest between swims; keep heart rate at 120-140 BPM:
      • 25
        • 50
          • 100
            • 200
              • 400
            • 200
          • 100
        • 50
      • 25
  • Kick Set-
    • 8 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
      • descend times 1-4, 5-8
  • Speed Set-
    • 8 x 50 @ 1:00 or r=15
      • negative split
  • Cool-down-
    • 150 easy swim

Total = 3000

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

Tuesday:  Stroke

  • Warm-up-
    • 4 x [25 swim/25 drill/25 kick]
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 4 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 kick/25 swim
    • 4 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 drill/25 swim
    • 4 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 scull with free kick/25 swim
  • Main Set-
    • 3 x through:
      • 50 @ 1:15 or r=20
        • stroke drill
      • 100 @ 2:15 or r=30
        • 25 stroke/25 free
      • 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
        • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 50’s
      • 100 @ 2:15 or r=30
        • 50 stroke/50 free
      • 50 @ 1:15 or r=20
        • stroke
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 swim

Total = 2500

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

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 600 choice
  • Main Set-
    • 400 pull @ 6:30 or r=30
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
    • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
      • faster-than-normal tempo
    • 2 x 200 pull @ 3:20 or r=20
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 50’s
    • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
      • faster-than-normal tempo
    • 4 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 25’s
    • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
      • faster-than-normal tempo
    • 8 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
      • breathe 3/5 by 25’s
    • 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

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

Thursday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 300 swim
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 12 x 25 @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 stroke kick/25 stroke swim
  • Main Set-
    • 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
      • breathe 3/5 by 25’s
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=20
      • 25 breast/25 free
    • 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 50’s
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=20
      • 25 back/25 breast
    • 300 pull @ 5:15 or r=45
      • breathe 3/5/3 by 100’s
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=20
      • 25 fly/25 back
    • 400 pull @ 7:00 or r=60
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=20
      • choice of strokes
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 swim

Total = 2500

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

Friday:  Sprint Freestyle/Speed

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 4 x 50 [25 drill/25 swim] @ r=10
    • 8 x 25 [25 scull/25 pull] @ r=5
  • Main Set-
    • 3 x through:
      • 2 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
        • fast feet!
      • 3 x 50 @ 1:15 or r=20
        • 25 drill/25 swim
      • 4 x 75 swim @ 1:45 or r=30
        • build each 75 to race pace
  • The Details-
    • 4 x BTF’s:
      • B=breakout with 3 strokes fast
        • ~20 seconds rest
      • T=fast turn
        • ~20 seconds rest
      • F=fast finish
        • ~40 seconds rest
  • Cool-down-
    • 8 x 25 [25 scull with free kick/25 swim] @ r=5

Total = 2500

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

May 26-30, 2014

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Workouts off the beaten path: May 19-23, 2014

Workouts for May 19-23, 2014

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

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 choice
  • Main Set-
    • 500 swim @ 8:20 or r=50
    • 250 pull @ 4:10 or r=25
    • 5 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
      • 400 swim @ 6:40 or r=40
      • 200 pull @ 3:20 or r=20
      • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
        • 300 swim @ 5:00 or r=30
        • 150 pull @ 2:30 or r=15
        • 3 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
          • 200 swim @ 3:20 or r=20
          • 100 pull @ 1:40 or r=10
          • 2 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 choice

Total = 3100

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

Tuesday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 100 kick
    • 100 pull
  • Main Set-
    • 5 x through:
      • 25 swim @ 45 or r=15
        • 50 kick @ 1:30 or r=15
          • 75 drill/swim/drill @ 1:45 or r=15
            • 50 stroke/50 free @ 2:00 or r=30
          • 75 swim/drill/swim @ 1:45 or r=15
        • 50 kick @ 1:30 or r=15
      • 25 swim @ 45 or r=15
    • 1 round each stroke
    • 1 round choice
    • Drills:
      • 4-beat fly
      • 10-10-3 back
      • 2 kicks, 1 pull breast
      • 10-10-3 free
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 swim

Total = 2500

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

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 free, stretch for 2 minutes
    • 200 swim (mix of strokes), stretch for 2 minutes
    • 200 IM kick, stretch on wall for 2 minutes
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 12 x 25 [25 scull/25 glide/25 pull] @ r=5
  • Pace Set A-
    • 3 x 200 swim @ 3:30 or r=30
      • #1:  push last 100
      • #2:  push middle 100
      • #3:  push 1st 100
  • Kick Set-
    • 6 x 50 kick @ 1:30 or r=15
      • descend 1-3, 4-6
      • choose one stroke for 1-3
      • choose another stroke for 4-6
  • Pace Set B-
    • 3 x 200 swim @ 3:30 or r=30
      • #1:  push even 50’s
      • #2:  push odd 50’s
      • #3:  push entire 200
  • Pull Set-
    • 6 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
      • breathe 3/5 by 25’s
  • Cool-down-
    • 300 choice

Total = 3000

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

Thursday:  Swim Clinic

I’m working with a different swim club, this since early April, 2014.  With a new club comes a new technique philosophy.  Bud Taylor is a well-known and respected swim coach in the Pacific Northwest.  He has a long history of success, especially with breaststrokers, so I am particularly interested in learning something from Bud.

One of the main differences between the way I coach breaststroke and the way Bud coaches breaststroke is the “out-sweep.”  I coach swimmers to scull out at a 45° angle; this phase is non-propulsive.  Although Bud believes the same, that the out sweep is non-propulsive, he preaches a slide out with palms facing sides, more like 90° angles.  The difference may seem minor, but remember in the water things are distorted.  In other words, you have to teach yourself what 45° feels like, just like you have to teach yourself what it means to enter and slide out on your right arm in freestyle without crossing over.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I understand this; fortunately because it makes me a faster swimmer; unfortunately because I exaggerate changes in the water to counteract the distortion but making big changes when your 50+ years has consequences–I’m currently injured.  In my two workouts of “breaststroke bliss,” before relegating myself to the kicking lane, I experimented with Bud’s outsweep and really liked the result:  I felt like I stayed down in the water and did not elevate during the outsweep, and this helped me feel more power during the propulsive phases of breaststroke (i.e., insweep and extention phases).  Previously, my shoulders elevated during the outsweep and I didn’t think there was anything I could do to prevent that.  But, sliding out with a 90° palm angle seems key.

If you’re going to make this change please do it a little bit at a time; I’m sure I’m injured because I aggressively applied the angle change to my palms and this was too much internal rotation on the shoulders.  As you practice, think:  “no pressure on the out sweep,” or “constant speed to the corners,” as Bud says.

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

Friday:  Sprint Freestyle/Speed

  • Warm-up-
    • 300 swim
    • 200 kick/swim
  • Kick Set-
    • 2 x 50 kick @ 1:40 or r=20
    • 2 x 50 kick @ 1:30 or r=15
    • 2 x 50 kick @ 1:20 or r=10
    • 2 x 50 kick @ 1:10 or r=5
  • Recovery Set-
    • 8 x 25 @ 40 or r=10
      • 25 drill/25 swim
  • Main Set-
    • 2 x through:
      • 1 x 150 free @ 3:00 or r=30
        • medium effort
      • 2 x 75 stroke @ 1:45 or r=30
        • hard effort
      • 3 x 50 free @ 1:00 or r=15
        • medium effort
      • 6 x 25 stroke @ 45 or r=20
        • hard effort
      • extra 30 seconds rest
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 [25 scull/25 swim]

Total = 2500

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

May 19-23, 2014

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Workouts off the beaten path: May 12-16, 2014

Workouts for May 12-16, 2014, 2014

***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
  • Pull Set-
    • 11 x 50 pull @ 55 or r=10
    • First 3:  4 breaths each 25
    • Next 4:  3 breaths each 25
    • Next 3:  2 breaths each 25
    • Last 50:  1 breath each 25
  • Main Set-
    • Davis Mile:  broken 1650
    • Subtract 2½ minutes to get time
      • 11 lengths (275) @ r=20
      • 10 lengths (250) @ r=20
      • 9 lengths (225) @ r=20
        • 8 lengths (200) @ r=15
        • 7 lengths (175) @ r=15
        • 6 lengths (150) @ r=15
        • 5 lengths (125) @ r=15
          • 4 lengths (100) @ r=10
          • 3 lengths (75) @ r=10
          • 2 lengths (50) @ r=10
            • 1 length (25)
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 3000

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

Tuesday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 300 swim
    • 200 IM kick
    • 100 IM drill
    • 8 x 25 swim @ r=10
      • build
  • Main IM Set-
    • 1 x 300 IM @ 5:30 or r=45
      • 4 x 50 fly @ 1:10 or r=20
        • 1 x 200 IM @ 4:00 or r=30
          • 4 x 50 back @ 1:10 or r=20
            • 1 x 100 IM @ 2:15 or r=30
              • 4 x 50 breast @ 1:10 or r=15
  • IM Set B-
    • 12 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=10
      • 100 IM order
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 2500

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

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim, 200 kick, 200 pull
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 12 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 10-beat free/25 free
      • 50 corkscrew [4 strokes free, 5 strokes back]
      • 25 10-beat back/25 back
  • Main Set-
    • 2 x through:
      • 200 should be faster than 200 split of 300
      • 100 should be faster than 100 split of 200
      • 50 should be faster than 50 split of 100
        • 300 swim @ 5:00 or r=30
        • 200 swim @ 3:30 or r=30
        • 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
        • 50 swim @ 1:15 or r=30
  • Speed Set-
    • 12 x 25 @ 40 or r=15
      • 12.5 easy/12.5 fast
      • 12.5 fast/12.5 easy
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 3000

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

Thursday:  Stroke

  • Warm-up-
    • 6 x [50 swim, 25 drill, 25 kick]
  • Stroke Set A-
    • 6 x 50 stroke @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 drill/25 swim
  • Stroke Set B-
    • 12 x 25 stroke @ 45 or r=15
      • ½ length scull/½ length swim
      • ½ length swim/½ length scull
  • Pull Set-
    • 800 pull:  breathe 3/5/7/5 by 50’s
  • Stroke Set C-
    • 12 x 25 swim @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 stroke/25 choice
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 2500

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

Friday:  Sprint Freestyle/Speed

  • Warm-up-
    • 400 swim
  • Main Set-
    • 2 x through:
      • 200 swim @ 3:30 or r=30
        • negative split
      • 2 x 100 pull @ 1:45 or r=15
        • moderate effort, breathe 3/5 by 25’s
      • 4 x 50 kick @ 1:30 or r=15
        • negative split
      • 8 x 25 stroke @ 45 or r=20
        • moderate – hard effort
      • extra 30 seconds rest
  • Speed Set-
    • 16 x 25 @ 40 or r=10-15
      • 25 easy/25 fast
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 swim

Total = 2500

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

May 12-16, 2014

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Workouts off the beaten path: May 5-9, 2014

Workouts for May 5-9, 2014

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

Monday:  Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 300 choice
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 4 x 50 @ r=10
      • 25 drill/25 swim
  • Main Set-
    • 4 x 150 pull @ 2:30 or r=15
      • build pace in each 150
    • extra 30 seconds rest
    • 1 x 600 swim @ 10:00 or r=60
      • negative split
    • 3 x 200 pull @ 3:20 or r=20
      • breathe 3/5/3/5 by 50’s
      • moderate pace
    • 2 x 300 swim @ 4:30 or r=30
      • descend times 1-2
      • pace should be faster than 600 pace
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 choice

Total = 3000

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

Tuesday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 600 choice
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 2 x through:
      • 4 x 25 kick @ 45 or r=10
      • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
  • IM Set A-
    • 12 x 50 @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 4 x through:
        • 12.5 scull with flutter kick/12.5 fly/25 back
        • 12.5 scull with flutter kick/12.5 back/25 breast
        • 12.5 scull with flutter kick/12.5 breast/25 free
  • IM Set B-
    • 24 x 25 stroke @ 45 or r=15
      • 25 drill/25 swim
      • 6 each stroke, IM order
  • Cool-down-
    • 100 choice

Total = 2500

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

Wednesday:  Mid-Distance Freestyle/Pace

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 200 kick
    • 4 x 50 [25 drill/25 swim] @ r=10
    • 4 x 25 [25 scull/25 glide stroke] @ r=5
    • 4 x 25 build @ r=10
  • Main Set-
    • 1 x 400 pull @ 7:00 or r=60
      • moderate pace
    • 4 x 100 swim @ 1:45 or r=15
      • negative split
    • 1 x 300 pull @ 5:15 or r=45
      • moderate pace
    • 4 x 75 swim @ 1:30 or r=15
      • build
    • 1 x 200 pull @ 3:30 or r=30
      • moderate pace
    • 4 x 50 swim @ 1:00 or r=15
      • negative split
    • 1 x 100 pull @ 2:00 or r=30
      • moderate pace
    • 4 x 25 swim @ 40 or r=15
      • fast
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 3000

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

Thursday:  IM

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 200 kick
    • 200 pull
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 8 x 25 drill @ r=10
      • 2 of each stroke
  • IM Set A-
    • 8 x 75 @ 2:00 or r=15-30
      • Choose 1 or 2 strokes:
        • 75 kick
        • 50 kick/25 swim
        • 25 kick/50 swim
        • 75 swim
        • 75 swim
        • 50 swim/25 kick
        • 25 swim/50 kick
        • 75 kick
  • IM Set B-
    • 8 x 50 swim @ 1:10 or r=15
      • 25 back/25 breast
  • IM Set C-
    • 16 x 25 swim @ 30 or r=5
      • 100 IM order
  • Cool-down-
    • 200 choice

Total = 2500

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

Friday:  Speed

  • Warm-up-
    • 200 swim
    • 200 kick
    • 200 pull
  • Warm-up Set-
    • 4 x 75 @ r=15
      • 25 kick/25 drill/25 swim
  • Stroke Count Set A-
    • 12 x 50 swim
    • 2 @ 1:00, 1 @ 1:15
      • Stroke count set, each set is 3 x 50:
        • #1: relaxed pace, count # of strokes
        • #2: 200 race pace, maintain same # of strokes
        • #3: max. speed, maintain same # of strokes
  • Pull Set-
    • 400 pull:  breathe 3/5/3/5 by 100’s
  • Stroke Count Set B-
    • 12 x 25 swim @ 45 or r=15
      • Stroke count set, each set is 3 x 25:
        • #1: relaxed pace, count # of strokes
        • #2: 200 race pace, maintain same # of strokes
        • #3: max. speed, maintain same # of strokes
  • Cool-down-
    • 4 x [25 scull/25 glide stroke/25 pull]

Total = 2500

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

May 5-9, 2014