Tri Swim Training

Saturday Swim Session: Drills

This swim session is a great way to work on developing your swim technique. 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;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 8x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 200m CD (1,400m)

Option B

  • 400m WU;
  • 16x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 10x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 200m CD (2,100m)

Option C

  • 800m WU;
  • 12x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 12x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 12x 50m Drill;
  • 100m Easy swim focusing on Tech;
  • 200m CD (3,100m)

Start the workout with a Warm Up (WU) covering 200m (Option A), 400m (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 are eight (Option A), sixteen (Option B), or twelve (Option C) repetitions of 50m Drills.  Feel free to use fins whilst doing the drills. Do the drills below, twice through for Option A, four times through for Option B, and three times through for Option C:

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

I wrote an article about swimming drills previously. Click here to read and watch it.

Take the fins off prior to the next set, which is a nice relaxed 100m where you focus on maintaining good technique.

The next set involves another drill set similar to the first drill set. This set is another eight reps for Option A, only ten reps this time for Option B and another twelve for Option C. Once again use your fins for it and complete the above drills twice through for Option A, two and a half times through for Option B and three times through for Option C.

Then take your fins off and do another relaxed 100m focusing on a nice smooth technique.

For Options A and B, this is the end of the workout prior to the Cool Down. Option C has another Drill set of twelve reps with another 100m relaxed swimming focusing on your technique before the Cool Down.

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, I published a similar session 12 months ago.

Saturday Swim Session: Sprints and other Strokes

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