Thoughts on swimming.

For the past 3 months I have been using a program from Swimplan for all my swim workouts. What's nice about this program is that the workouts are personalized based on time trials, how much time you want to swim, intensity level, and what equipment you want to use. What makes it even better is that it's a free service.

Using this program has kept me motivated to swim consistently through the winter months. Before I head to the pool I print out a new program and tape it to my water bottle. I don't know how other people manage their swims, as fas as, how to remember time and sets of lengths but what helps me is to bring the printed workout to the pool so that I can enjoy my swim and not get confused with lap counting or distance.

Having this program has also taken my mind off the frustrations of improving my swim technique. I've given up on trying to be a perfectionist. I'd love to have a swim stroke like some great olympic swimmer. I realize I should just focus on having a good time and enjoy where I'm at in my abilities. And as long as I can get through a swim during a triathlon and have enough energy to power through the rest of the race, I'm happy!


Here is todays workout in detail format from swimplan.com:

Duration
45-60 mins
Distance
2200yd
Pool length
25yd

Warm up
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim (even pace), rest 0:15 / 50yd

Freestyle swim at a steady pace.
Build up
• 8 x 50yd Single Arm with Zoomers (arm out front) 6 x left, 6 x right, 6 x full stroke, rest 0:15 / 50yd

Freestyle using one arm at a time, focusing on shoulder and hip rotation. Complete 6 arm strokes with the left arm then 6 strokes with the right arm, followed by 6 strokes using both arms. The non-stroking arm is held out front in a streamlined position.

Core
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim, leave on 01:10 / 50yd

Freestyle swim, starting every 50yd set on the defined time period. The departure time combines your swimming target time and rest time, so the faster you go the more rest you will have. Conversely, the slower you swim, the less rest time you will have.
• 2 x 100yd Freestyle Pull with a pull buoy, rest 0:20 / 100yd
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim, leave on 01:04 / 50yd

Freestyle swim, starting every 50yd set on the defined time period. The departure time combines your swimming target time and rest time, so the faster you go the more rest you will have. Conversely, the slower you swim, the less rest time you will have.
• 1 x 200yd Freestyle Swim, rest 0:30 / 200yd


Warm down
• 8 x 25yd Easy, rest 0:10 / 25yd


This is the swim without the descriptions and is what I taped to my water bottle:

Warm up
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim (even pace), rest 0:15 / 50yd

Build up
• 8 x 50yd Single Arm with Zoomers (arm out front) 6 x left, 6 x right, 6 x full stroke, rest 0:15 / 50yd

Core
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim, leave on 01:10 / 50yd
• 2 x 100yd Freestyle Pull with a pull buoy, rest 0:20 / 100yd
• 8 x 50yd Freestyle Swim, leave on 01:04 / 50yd
• 1 x 200yd Freestyle Swim, rest 0:30 / 200yd

Warm down
• 8 x 25yd Easy, rest 0:10 / 25yd