Do Something Streak, Day 7: Winter Rust-Buster Swim
Blow out the cobwebs by using short intervals mixed with kicking, drills, and pulling.
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For Day 7 of our 30-day Do Something Streak, we’re going to hop into the pool with a purpose. One of the most common mistakes triathletes make in winter swim training is swimming endless, meaningless laps in the pool. Though any swim is a good swim when it comes to building basic fitness, there’s a better way to make use of your time in the pool. Use this workout from Coach Sara McLarty to refamiliarize yourself with the water, while at the same time getting a head start on open-water skills.
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A
3×150 swim/50 kick warm-up
2x [4×25 on :30 with buoy between ankles; 200 pull with regular buoy and paddles on 3:00]
6×50 on :60 (25 kick/25 pull with board between thighs)
6×50 on :50 (2 build, 1 easy)
8×75 on 1:30 (25 kick/25 drill/25 swim, IM order)
8×75 on 1:15 (25 Tarzan drill* fast/50 smooth)
300 swim, no walls (turn at the ‘T’)
300 pull (50 breathing every third stroke/50 breathing every fifth)
300 cool-down (50 non-free/50 free)
Total: 3,900
RELATED: These Advanced Skills Will Take Your Open-Water Swimming to the Next Level
B
2×150 swim/50 kick warm-up
2x [4×25 on :40 with buoy between ankles; 200 pull with regular buoy and paddles on 4:00]
6×50 on 1:15 (25 kick/25 pull with board between thighs)
6×50 on :60 (2 build, 1 easy)
4×75 on 2:00 (25 kick/25 drill/25 swim)
4×75 on 1:50 (25 Tarzan drill* fast/50 smooth)
200 swim, no walls (turn at the ‘T’)
200 pull (50 breathing every third stroke/50 breathing every fifth)
200 cool-down (50 non-free/50 free)
Total: 2,800
RELATED: Jan Frodeno’s Favorite Open-Water Swimming Workouts
C
150 swim/50 kick warm-up
4×25 with 10 sec rest, buoy between ankles
200 pull with regular buoy and paddles
4×50 with 15 sec rest (25 kick/25 pull with board between thighs)
6×50 with 10 sec rest (2 build, 1 easy)
4×75 with 20 sec rest (25 kick/25 Tarzan drill*/25 swim)
200 swim, no walls (turn at the ‘T’)
200 pull (50 breathing every third stroke/50 breathing every fifth)
100 cool-down (50 non-free/50 free)
Total: 1,800
*Swim with head out of water, face forward and back arched, keeping feet near the water’s surface.