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Coaches: Permission to change up swim session

Dave TalloDave Tallo
in General Training Discussions

I'd like to sub in a weekly 30' swim tt for my normal in-season Friday swim session.  

Pros: seems to be a good 'challenge' workout to push myself to get a bit further over the previous weeks' sessions ... much more so than the shorter sets.  Great for building mental toughness ... these are tough from the start and just get tougher.  Also works on a historical limiter for me: I've always underperformed in the swim, and after P introduced these in my AZ tweak, I was able to break through a long-standing goal.   Lastly, I'm holding form for most of the set.  Except the last 300, maybe.  

Cons: can't thnk of too many.  I don't imagine this would have much more a downstream cost than the prescibed sessions, would they?   

Anyhow, I'd appreciate any input or validation on this.

Dave

Comments

  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Dave,

    I'm a barge in the water so take my comments for what they are worth.  Perhaps they are just questions to stimulate thought.  Do you thing you need a 30'tt every week?  Maybe every two weeks or once a month.  My understanding of the swim protocol is to get you to go faster and harder sets at some points while doing the drills to maintain form. 

    If you have enough swimming in already to push yourself in a 30'tt then I can't see to many issues, other than not getting in some drill or faster 100's, 200's etc.

    Gordon

  • kurshingkurshing

    I would think doing it every 2 or 3 week would be better...that gives you more time for improvement.  I can't imagine that there is MUCH improvement after only 2 stroke-focussed sessions prior to testing again.  I would think you would want to have at least 6-8 speed and stroke sessions before measuring, or you ALWAYS be in a mode of testing.  You notice that the bike and the run tests don't occur all that often, and there is MUCH more room for improvement on these, and a lot more time and volume across which to improve.

    So, I would say, maybe every 3 weeks would be more 'ideal' if you are going to be breaking from what is truly ideal...which would be just following the plans.

    Just my thoughts!  Good luck with it!

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    I did this a few years ago, a 2k TT every wednesday. I enjoyed the workout and am actually doing it again right now because of time constraints. As long as you aren't killing yourself trying to get 15" faster every week, I approve of this change.

    P
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