Beginners Anyone kind of swimmer who needs to get an effective swim workout in a short amount of time

Because it depends on what I want you to focus on. I like to use HR as a general measure to make sure that you are in the desired training zone (usually Zone 3 or Zone 4). By focusing on HR rather than RPE, it also allows you to focus on swimming as fast as you can but within that specific HR zone. So in order to swim faster, without your HR increasing, you are forced to focus on areas of your swim beyond just effort alone such as your technique and overall efficiency.

Due to the varying levels of swimmers using our program, it is impossible to write workouts with singular interval times that are going to be suitable for everyone. So I've chosen rest times (either Rest Interval / RI, or Rest Pace / RP) that will give you how much rest you need to hit your training zones just like an interval would.

RI stands for "Rest Interval". RT stands for "Rest Time" RI example: 8 x 50m on :15 RI On your first 50m, if your time was :35, then with 15 seconds RI your interval for the set is :50, so for the duration of the set you are going to hold an interval of :55 even if you fatigue and begin swimming slower. So if on #6 you swim the 50m in :40 sec, your interval is still :50 sec based on your first 50m. RT Example: 8 x 50m on :15 RT No matter what time you swim, you will always take 15 seconds rest. If you swim the first 50m in :35 sec, with :15 RP you will push off again when the clock hits :50 sec. If on #6 you swim in :45 sec, you still take 15 seconds rest so you will leave again when the clock hits :55 sec.

May be written as "Desc" Gradually increase your speed as required. Example 1: 4 x 100m Desc 25's This means you are going begin each 100 with the same starting speed and gradually increase your speed for each 25m inside each 100m. Example 2: 8 x 50m Desc 1 - 4 on :15 Rest This means slightly increase the speed you swim each 50, and then repeat until you've swam the number of required 50's, which in this case would be 2 rounds.

May be written as "Rev Desc". This is the opposite of a "Descend". I want you to start at your fastest pace, and then gradually decrease your speed as required.

May be written as "N/S". This means you need to swim the second half faster than the first half. Keep in mind, this does not mean you swim the first half easy and the second half fast. If that's what I wanted you to do, then I would write that. To negative split well, the difference should be within a few seconds. Example 200m Free N/S 1st 100m: 1:17 2nd 200m: 1:15

May be written as "E/S". This means swimming the first half and second half of a given distance in the same time. Pick a pace that challenges you to maintain the same pace as you fatigue.

P stands for Pull PB stands for Pull Buoy Swimming with arms only while holding a Pull Buoy between your thighs. I personally don't like holding the Pull Buoy between the ankles or using bands around the ankles because I think it an unnatural cadence to the stroke yielding unwanted technique that can translate to your full stroke. PB stands for Pull Buoy

K stands for Kick KB stands for Kickboard Kick is a swimming exercise where you are only using your legs. Unless otherwise specified, this is flutter kick using a kickboard.

This is a drill where the catch does not occur until the recovery arm has entered the water beside the opposite arm. Pause for a brief moment with both arms in "11" position, or in other words, extended slightly inside shoulder width apart, but never with hands on top of each other. Keep arms long but not locked. Elbows should continue to be pointing to the outside of the pool until the catch is initiated.

This means there is a breathing pattern I want you to follow. The "B" means "Breathing" and the number following is the number of stroke cycles per breath. So B2 means "Breathing every 2", B3 means "Breathing every 3", and so on.

To Get Ready This means to use the set to prepare for the upcoming main set. You're already physically warmed up but if you need anything extra to "feel ready", or need an easy float to mentally prepare / clear your head, or both, it's up to you. Just do whatever you need in the distance indicated. Do I need to swim the TGR continuously? No. You can break the TGR down however you want. If the set is 100m TGR, you can do it as 4 x 25, 2 x 50, 50 Kick / 50 Swim... whatever you need.

Think of these workouts more like a guide or a goal to achieve. They are not set in stone. It is perfectly normal even for Olympians to adjust their workouts as needed. If you need more rest, take more rest. If there are too many sets, then reduce the number of sets. For example, if 8 x 50m is too much, do 4 x or 6 x 50 instead. If you need more, then add more, or move up to the "Daily Swims 3k - 4k" workouts.

The simplest formula is... 220 - (your age) = Max HR For example, if you are 39 (like me!) your max Heart Rate is 181 BPM If you are over 40, a more accurate formula would be: 207 - (0.7 x your age) = Max HR For example, if you are 42, your max HR is 178 BPM *Women generally have a heart rate that is 5 - 10 BPM higher than men so add 5 - 10 to your answer.

Because it depends on what I want you to focus on. I like to use HR as a general measure to make sure that you are in the desired training zone (usually Zone 3 or Zone 4). By focusing on HR rather than RPE, it also allows you to focus on swimming as fast as you can but within that specific HR zone. So in order to swim faster, without your HR increasing, you are forced to focus on areas of your swim beyond just effort alone such as your technique and overall efficiency.

RPE is Rate Of Perceived Exertion. Or in other words...your effort level. For simplicity we use a standard 0 - 10 scale with 10 being the absolute max effort. You can also think of these like a percentage of effort where a 7 RPE is 70% effort.