3 Workouts to Improve Your Swim

Drill, Baby Drill Workout

Warm up:

  • 50 swim, 50 kick, 50 pull, repeat two times (300)

Main set:

  • 5 x 100 drill by 25s with 15-second rest. Drills are 25 right-arm, 25 left-arm, 25 catch-up, 25 fast swim. (500)
  • 4 x 75 swim, done as 25 fast, 25 easy, 25 fast, 10-second rest (300)
  • 5 x 100 drill by 25s with 15-second rest. Drills are 25 catch-up, 25 fingertip drag, 25 fist, 25 fast swim. (500)
  • 4 x 75 swim, done as 25 easy, 25 fast, 25 easy; 10-seconed rest (300)
  • 4 x 50 drill done as 25 Tarzan, 25 swim; 15-second rest (200)
  • 10 x 25 swim fast with 10-second rest (250)

Cool down:

  • 200 easy swim, done as 25 double arm back stroke, 25 breast, 50 pull (200)

Total: 2550

More: Dave Scott's Guide to Efficient Swimming

Remember, form work is not just for the winter months. As the season approaches, continue to include drilling, kicking and sculling sets within your swim sessions. Just a short set focusing on one aspect of your stroke will continue to develop your efficiency in the water and in the long run, your speed.

Be sure to mix-up the workouts to keep them fresh, interesting, challenging and fun.

*Six-beat kick: On your side, with bottom arm extended, complete six kicks; then stroke and roll to your other side and repeat. **Three-beat kick: On your side, with bottom arm extended, complete three kicks; then stroke and roll to your other side and repeat.

More: 10 Steps to Improving Your Triathlon Swim

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About the Author

Karen Buxton

Karen Buxton is Level-III USA Triathlon certified coach with over 25 years of coaching experience and author of The Triathlete's Guide to Off-Season Training. Coach Buxton works and trains in Greensboro, North Carolina and can be reached at Karen@coachbuxton.com. Find out more about Coach Buxton at www.coachbuxton.com
Karen Buxton is Level-III USA Triathlon certified coach with over 25 years of coaching experience and author of The Triathlete's Guide to Off-Season Training. Coach Buxton works and trains in Greensboro, North Carolina and can be reached at Karen@coachbuxton.com. Find out more about Coach Buxton at www.coachbuxton.com

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