I’ve finally got round to creating some swimming training plans, so I thought I’d share them with you.
A couple of weeks ago I devised a weekly plan – when to train and what exercise I’m doing. (Of course since then I haven’t been able to stick to it all, but that’s a whole other story). However, what I hadn’t done is define what I was going to do in the pool each time I went.
Normally I tend to alternate between doing speed endurance sessions, or just getting in the pool and swimming until it is time to get out. However, I’m aware that it would be a good idea to work on my technique a bit (especially my lack of rotation on my right side; and how my left hand lifts up as I stretch it out). So I wanted to create some sessions that would still be fun, would still feel like a ‘proper’ work out and would be manageable on my own.
I’ve split my sessions into four main areas:
– Warm-up / Cool down – as the names suggest, just gentle swimming, but I’ve added in some breaststroke and the use of the pull buoy and kickboard to mix it up a bit.
– Technical – drills suggested to me by Trish, one of the Swimtrek guides.
– Speed – or rather in my case, it’s about speed endurance. It’s not about the maximum speed I can swim, it’s about being able to hold a good speed for as long as possible.
– Swim – just some time in each session to just get some lengths in.
I had six different technical drills suggested to me, so I’ve created six different programmes, each programme working on four of the drills – in that way I get to mix it up and don’t get too bored of them. Then for the other areas I had two options for each, so just tossed a coin to see which one I’d do with that particular technical session.Once I planned the sessions I printed them out and laminated each of them (I had a bit of help cutting them out and laminating them from my son). Each time I go to the pool I’ll take one of these cards at random. In this way I’m hoping that I’ve got some sessions that keep me both interested and guessing.
![Six [hopefully] interesting traing plans.](https://1000kmstowindermere.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/trainingplans.jpg)
Six [hopefully] interesting training plans.
1000kmstowindermere 
A couple of questions: What is “video camera”? and What, no kick sets?
I think these are a really good idea and something I keep meaning to do, I might borrow some of your ideas, if you don’t mind 🙂
Video camera is for me to imagine there is a video camera in my belly button and while I’m swimming I need to film the left-hand side of the pool and the right-hand side of the pool – it’s to help me focus on better rotation, especially to the right.
I don’t tend to do much kick stuff, mainly because in the longer swims I hardly use my legs. My legs have one important role – to get out of the way and not create any drag!
Borrow away…