Resting between Swim Intervals

I think if I did 100's with 10 second rests, my times would look something like this:

1:39, 1:41, 1:42, 1:43, 1:44, 1:45, 1:46, 1:47, 1:48, 1:49...

On the otherhand, a straight 1,000m at 1:50/100m pace seems quite manageable.  I guess I treat the swim intervals too much like track intervals and tend to go pretty hard.

I understand the benefit of swimming faster sets of 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, etc... to get faster, of course! I also do some straight-through swims of 1,000m, 1,500m, etc... to build endurance. For those intervals of shorter sets, I generally take 20-60 seconds to catch my breath. The harder/faster I swim, the longer the rest interval. For all-out 50's, I rest a full minute.

Today, I did 100's at T-minus 5sec pace and rested 30sec between each. Basically 100's at RPE 7-8 (1:40/100m) on the 2:10's.

It's been suggested that this is too long and that 10 seconds would be "better." It just doesn't make sense for me to do a 10x100m with 0:10 rest intervals. Why not just do the 1,000m continuously? I mean, really, what's the point of a 5 or 10 second rest!? If I'm swimming at an easy enough pace to only need 10 seconds rest, I might as well not rest at all. Just keep swimming!

I think if I did 100's with 10 second rests, my times would look something like this:

1:39, 1:41, 1:42, 1:43, 1:44, 1:45, 1:46, 1:47, 1:48, 1:49...

On the otherhand, a straight 1,000m at 1:50/100m pace seems quite manageable.  I guess I treat the swim intervals too much like track intervals and tend to go pretty hard.

x2.

Today's workout for me was 5 x 100 on 10" and then right into a 500 while trying to hold the same pace as the 100s. Then take 30" and repeat. It's a VERY different workout than a 2000m straight swim. In general, much more valuable for me as my body learns to push the pace. This eventually, of course, leads to faster 2000m swims.

I understand the benefit of swimming faster sets of 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, etc... to get faster, of course!  I also do some straight-through swims of 1,000m, 1,500m, etc... to build endurance.  For those intervals of shorter sets, I generally take 20-60 seconds to catch my breath.  The harder/faster I swim, the longer the rest interval.  For all-out 50's, I rest a full minute.

Today, I did 100's at T-minus 5sec pace and rested 30sec between each.  Basically 100's at RPE 7-8 (1:40/100m) on the 2:10's.

It's been suggested that this is too long and that 10 seconds would be "better."  It just doesn't make sense for me to do a 10x100m with 0:10 rest intervals.  Why not just do the 1,000m continuously?  I mean, really, what's the point of a 5 or 10 second rest!?  If I'm swimming at an easy enough pace to only need 10 seconds rest, I might as well not rest at all.  Just keep swimming!

Today, I did 100's at T-minus 5sec pace and rested 30sec between each. Basically 100's at RPE 7-8 (1:40/100m) on the 2:10's.

It's been suggested that this is too long and that 10 seconds would be "better."

OK.  You guys have given me a personal challenge:

• week of 4/21:  10x100 at 1:50 on 2:00 (high confidence)
• week of 4/28:  10x100 at 1:45 on 1:55 (seems doable)
• week of 5/5:    10x100 at 1:40 on 1:50 (we'll see)

I'm guessing it's better to hold rest intervals constant.   If, one has trouble leaving on the x:xx, it's better to slow down vs. extend rest, right?

As long as the intervals are a reasonable duration, if you come to the wall and only have a few seconds left, you go, don't slow down. If you get to the wall and there's no time left, you go. If you get to the wall and you are over and you still have a few to do, you set the bar too high.

What I really need is Bryan on the deck barking at me after each 100m:

"WTF are you doing hangin' on the gd wall!  Get your A$$ in gear and swim!  Swim you MF'er, SWIM!  HTFU and SWIM!!!