Swim workout terminology?

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swim workout terminology? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2005-02-08 10:00 AM

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: Swim workout terminology?
I've been doing a little reading trying to develop some structure to my swim workouts. I've found that the shorthand terminology is a little difficult to decipher, especially never having been involved in any organized swimming before. I wish I had a list of all the terms that I needed help with. Here is an example workout:

Warm up: 200 Free (Easy), 6x100 (25 Kick/25 Free/25 Drill/25 Free) with 15" rest.
Main set: 20x50 with 10" rest as 5 kick on side (left side 25/right side 25), 5 kick on back for 25/25 free, 5 kick on side (left side 25/right side 25), 5 as 50 free (fins optional for whole set).
Warm down: 200 easy choice.

I can figure most of this out. I assume when they say "25 drill" that I should just pick a drill like underswitch. What about "25 kick" in the warm up? It doesn't say "on side" like the working set so should I assume this means with a kickboard? And if it says 200 pull, would that be using a pull buoy or just focus on letting my legs hang on for the ride while my arms pull me through? I'm sure I'll come up with other questions as I research more.

Thanks-

Joel



Edited by TH3_FRB 2005-02-08 10:00 AM

2005-02-08 10:06 AM
in reply to: #114331

User image

Expert
1836
100050010010010025
Lafayette, CO
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?

Seems like you've pretty well figured it all out:

  • Kick (with or without kickboard) - no hands, just legs
  • Pull (with or without pull buoy) - no legs, just arms
  • Drill - you should choose whichever drill that you would benefit most from, although you can choose an easy drill for rest purposes. (I tend to switch from one drill to another, depending on what I am trying to work on)
  • On Side - will help you with your breathing patterns

Hope that helps!

2005-02-08 1:06 PM
in reply to: #114331

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
Kicking without arms...I can't imagine doing this without a kickboard unless I'm on my side/back.
2005-02-08 1:20 PM
in reply to: #114434

User image

Lethbridge, Alberta
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
TH3_FRB - 2005-02-08 11:06 AM

Kicking without arms...I can't imagine doing this without a kickboard unless I'm on my side/back.


I was dumbstruck whem my swim instructor asked me to do this too, but I eventually tried it and was amazed that it actually worked. I had been breathing every third stroke while swimming and just maintained that rhythm without stroking, my hands stayed out in front. Instead of rolling back and forth in between breaths I went from a breath on one side to a breath on the other side in three smaller rolls that blended together.

Edited by Micawber 2005-02-08 1:36 PM
2005-02-08 1:31 PM
in reply to: #114331

Regular
104
100
San Luis Obispo, CA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
I would read the warm up as no kickboard, since it is a 100 broken into 25's. Otherwise you'd be leaving your board at the wrong end of the pool, or worse in the middle of of a 50 meter pool.
Since the type of kick is not specified, you could do flutter, dolphin or breaststroke kick and you can choose whether you'd like to do it on your back, side or stomach.

If the workout doesn't specify the type of drill, then it is your choice.
2005-02-08 1:40 PM
in reply to: #114331

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
I'll have to try the kicking without arms on my stomach thing tomorrow...sounds difficult to remain relaxed and breathing without having some arm movement to help roll. I've been working on under switch drills and it's all about the switching that initiates the roll and breathing so taking that out of the equation seems to contradict what I've been working on.

I'm also looking into getting some coaching sessions which should help me figure this stuff out.

2005-02-08 1:46 PM
in reply to: #114331

User image

Elite Veteran
831
50010010010025
Northern Va/Metro D.C.
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
When you're kicking without arms, simply extend both arms in front so both of your thumbs are touching and kick. When you need to take a breath, simply take one half stroke and resume kicking. Hope this helps!
2005-02-08 1:52 PM
in reply to: #114449

User image

Lethbridge, Alberta
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
trilover - 2005-02-08 11:46 AM

When you're kicking without arms, simply extend both arms in front so both of your thumbs are touching and kick. When you need to take a breath, simply take one half stroke and resume kicking. Hope this helps!


I found I was able to roll with kicking only. My hands stayed out in front. I've no idea how it's supposed to be done, that's just what worked for me.
2005-02-08 2:19 PM
in reply to: #114449

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
Ah...that sounds like the way to go.

Thanks!

trilover - 2005-02-08 1:46 PM

When you're kicking without arms, simply extend both arms in front so both of your thumbs are touching and kick. When you need to take a breath, simply take one half stroke and resume kicking. Hope this helps!
2005-02-08 2:41 PM
in reply to: #114331

Elite Veteran
781
500100100252525
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
Dang, that workout contains A LOT of kicking! I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I've never done a swim workout with more than a grand total of 6 X 50 of kick drills. Of course, I have a special hate for kick drills
2005-02-08 3:39 PM
in reply to: #114331

User image

Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
Yeah...I didn't think about that. I would probably substitute more drills for some of the kicking...things like underswitch are mostly kicking drills anyway.

2005-02-08 3:54 PM
in reply to: #114449

User image

Regular
110
100
King George, VA
Subject: RE: Swim workout terminology?
trilover - 2005-02-08 1:46 PM

When you're kicking without arms, simply extend both arms in front so both of your thumbs are touching and kick. When you need to take a breath, simply take one half stroke and resume kicking. Hope this helps!


I'll have to try it that way tomorrow. Yesterday, I started kicking, both arms extended, breathing out (as with a normal freestyle stroke), but as I rolled to breathe, I was under water! I promptly switched that length to freestyle.

Last night I read about a drill in Joe Friel's The Triathlete's Training Bible that shows both arms by your sides. Apparently you are supposed to just "look up" to breathe. I think the point is to exaggerate the 'press the buoy' technique. Head comes up to breathe - legs and feet go down - head goes back down (pressing the buoy) - legs and feet come back up.

I'm going to try that one too.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swim workout terminology? Rss Feed