Endurance is a critical component of fitness for triathletes and long distance open water swimmers. The reps within this session involve a range of paces to develop the skill and mindset to finish an open water swim or swim leg of a triathlon with stamina. There are some progressive paces used to build your fitness. This is a great session for triathletes and open water swimmers to do to build their sustained 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. This weeks sessions are a little longer than normal…..challenge yourself and enjoy.
The inspiration for today’s workout comes from Workouts In A Binder – For Swimmers, Triathletes and Coaches written by Nick and Eric Hansen.
Option A
- 300m WU;
- 150m Kick;
- 150m Pull;
- 150m Choice;
- 2x 150m 10RI;
- 2x 200m -ve split 30RI;
- 150m 15RI;
- 300m -ve split 2min RI;
- 4x 150m Pull 20RI;
- 200m CD (2,700m)
Option B
- 300m WU;
- 200m Kick;
- 200m Pull;
- 200m Choice;
- 3x 150m 10RI;
- 2x 300m -ve split 30RI;
- 200m 15RI;
- 400m -ve split 2min RI;
- 4x 200m Pull 20RI;
- 300m CD (3,650m)
Option C
- 300m WU;
- 200m Kick;
- 200m Pull;
- 200m Choice;
- 4x 150m 10RI;
- 2x 300m -ve split 30RI;
- 2x 200m 15RI;
- 400m -ve split 2min RI;
- 4x 250m Pull 20RI;
- 300m CD (4,200m)
Start the workout with a Warm Up (WU) by swimming 300m. Followed by 150m (Option A) or 200m (Options B & C) kicking (feel free to use fins and avoid using a kick-board as demonstrated in the video below.
Next up is 150m (Option A) or 200m (Options B & C) utilising a Pull Buoy. Finish the Warm Up (WU) with a final 150m (Option A) or 200m (Options B & C) of a stroke of your choice (avoid freestyle).
The first main set is made up of two (Option A), three (Option B) or four (Option C) reps of 150m. Take a ten second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.
The next set is made up of two 200m (Option A) or 300m (Options B & C) reps. Swim these as a negative split, where the second half is faster than the first half of each rep). Take a 30 second Rest Interval (RI) between reps.
Next up is a single (Option A & B) rep of 150m (Option A) or 200m (Option B) with a fifteen second Rest Interval (RI) after the rep. Option C has two reps of 200m, also with the 15 second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.
Next up is another negative split rep where Option A swims 300m and Options B & C swim 400m. Take a two minute Rest Interval (RI) after this rep.
The final set prior to the Cool Down (CD) involves four reps of 150m (Option A), 200m (Option B) or 250m (Option C). Take a 20 second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep.
For the Cool Down (CD) swim 200m (Option A) or 300m (Options B & C). Unlike the previous sets which have to be freestyle, the cool down (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.
If you’d like weekly swim workouts sent directly to your inbox, fill in this form:
Get Weekly Swim Workouts Direct to Your Inbox
You won’t find a more useful or durable swimming book. These waterproof pages are made to be used and abused on the pool deck, and oversize flat will hold the workouts upright for easier viewing.
Thousands of swimmers and triathletes have used the original workouts in a binder to strengthen the strokes and improve the times. And Nick and Eric Hansen deliver 100 new workouts that incorporate a full range of strokes, drills, and skill building to help you develop more power, endurance, and speed. Athletes can choose between a standard “A workout” and a modified “B workout“, for those with less time or stamina.
Regardless of experience or ability, you’ll enjoy the variety packed into these pages and the unique training plans that help put it together.
Nick Hanson is a former US national team swimming coach University of Wisconsin head coach and University of Arizona assistant coach. Currently, he coaches master swimmers in Loveland, Colorado.
Eric Hanson has national and international experience as an athlete in a coach of the US national team. He served as assistant coach of the 2003 Pan-American games US team and head coach of the 2002 short course world championships. Now as the head coach at the University of Wisconsin, he oversees both men’s and women’s swim programs.
Share this post so your friends can benefit as well.
Get my 12 week Ironman Swim PB Training Plan with 25% off
Have you got 12 weeks left prior to an Ironman Race and you need to sort your swim out? Here is my periodised swim programme to get you swimming an Ironman PB ready for whichever race you are preparing for.
The first three weeks focus on building a base and enhancing your technique. The next three weeks continue to build your base with longer sets. Then we start adding a touch of speed without losing your aerobic conditioning. Then over the final three weeks we taper off, but maintain the intensity so you don’t lose any race speed.
When purchasing, use the discount code “web25” to claim your 25% discount.
When purchasing, use the discount code “web25” to claim your 25% discount.