recovery time between intervals

I'm definitely not the best person to ask as I just kind of make up my own swimming workouts. But, I think recovery time has a lot to do with your abilities and how hard a workout you're looking for when in the pool.

When I do swimming intervals, I don't do it based on recovery time, but rather I will, for example, do 100s on every 2:30. So, I start my stopwatch and swim a 100 at 0, then swim another at 2:30, the next at 5:00, the next at 7:30, and so on. My recovery time is the time between finishing the 100 and waiting for my next go time. My 100 times don't vary much during one workout, so my recovery time is typically always about the same (a little less near the end as my 100 time slows). Then, as your times improve, you can drop that down and do 100s on every 2:15 or so.

You can apply that to any distance, just get an idea as to how long it takes you and how much recovery you feel you should have. I don't think you need any more than 1 to 2 mins recovery time for any of the distances you would be doing intervals with. You'll easily recognize it if you're not giving yourself enough recovery time.

I definitely hope someone a bit more knowledgeable can chime in. But I hope that maybe I at least gave you something to start with. Good Luck!

Thanks Lauren - Your words are incredibly helpful!....I'll try the 2:30 per 100 this week and see how it goes - and will add h.r. if I'm feeling that isn't enough time...Because my swimming is weak, it's easy for me to rest MUCH LONGER than is probably advisable!

Rhonda