Swim the channel with the Mencap Marvels

Build endurance and improve your open water skills with the last of four sessions from Fiona Ford

WARM UP

1 to 2 x 400m FC

Practise buoy turns using

backstroke flip turn or

single arm turns.

MAIN SET (ALL FC)

3 x 750-800m as:

1) Endurance paced

swim. Improve your

versatility in turns by

working on both single

arm and backstroke flip

turns at each buoy. Make

sure you are competent

at both left and right-angled turns.
2) Drafting endurance

paced swim. Overtake

each other with a short

sprint effort in the

approach to each buoy

turn. Work out which turn

technique provides you

with a significant gain.

Try simply swimming

around the buoy with

integrated breathing

sighting, backstroke flip

turn and single arm FC

turns.

3) Drafting endurance

paced swim. Overtake

each other with a short

sprint effort in the

approach to each buoy

turn. Practise the turn

technique that provides

you with the most

significant gain, from 2).

COOL DOWN

200m to 400m easy

swim. Include both

turning techniques for

skill consolidation.

TOTALS

2850m – 3200m

DEFINITIONS

FC = Front crawl

BS = Backstroke

Drafting on feet: Maintain a gap

of around 15cm to 30cm behind the

swimmer in front. Modify your catch

position around their feet and swim

at an easy effort level. You save

an estimated 20% effort through

effective drafting.

Drafting on hip: Aim to swim with

your shoulders level with the hips of

the swimmer you’re drafting. Modify

your arm recovery and stroke rate

around theirs. Breathe towards them

to monitor their direction and stroke

rate, and adjust yours to maintain

this more challenging drafting

position.

Endurance pace is your threshold

pace or critical swim speed (CSS)

plus about 3 to 5 seconds per 100m.

So, if your CCS is 1:45 per 100m, your

endurance pace will be around 1:48

to 1:50. Aerobic endurance training

is a fully maintainable pace that

allows you to maintain excellent

technique and rhythm over longer

distances. Train in a wetsuit if you

will be racing in one. Remember

your CSS pace in a wetsuit in open

water will be different to your CSS

without a wetsuit from the pool.

Use your wetsuit assisted CSS

from timed swims as described in previous sessions. Endurance training is some

of the most important we can do

as distance freestyle swimmers

to maintain pace over time, by

developing the eficiency in the fat

utilisation energy system.

Swim Smooth Squad training and Video Analysis sessions

Triathlon Europe provides weekly Swim Smooth squad training in South West London. The squad enjoy training all year round in fabulous indoor and outdoor 33m pools. Fiona offers swim training plans, 1-2-1 video analysis sessions and stroke correction sessions on weekday mornings and weekend Swim Smooth workshops.

Find out more: triathloneurope.com