IM Swim Training: Don Fink

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2009-07-20 8:27 PM

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Subject: IM Swim Training: Don Fink

I am 18 weeks out from IMAZ, and my swim training is starting to ramp up.  Swimming has always been a strength of mine so I have taken it easier than I have run/bike.

All of the swim's prescribed in the training have a 8 x 50 set of drills at the beginning and end of ALL workouts.  I hate doing drills, and I really feel like I don't need them.  As a result I usually shorten these or cut them out completely.

Is this a concern?  It amounts to 800 yds. per workout.  Do I need to make up all of this distance, and where should I insert it?  Thanks in advance!

2009-07-21 8:46 AM
in reply to: #2297494

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Subject: RE: IM Swim Training: Don Fink
Just my opinion but...

I think even accomplished swimmers benefit from, and do, the drills.

As for the total yardage per workout:
I followed Fink's plan for Placid (my last full workout this morning!!) Anyway, if you don't do the drills, then I would say just swim easy for each of those 400y sections, so your warmup and cooldown are extended.
So instead of 500wu, 400drills, main set, 400 drills, 300 cd - I'd do 900wu, main set, 700 cd.
2009-07-21 8:58 AM
in reply to: #2297494

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Subject: RE: IM Swim Training: Don Fink
IMO the 50's are not about the distance. They are used, in Fink's case (and others) for stroke work, focus on maintaining form, and for getting the heart rate up either for warm up or to push yourself to swim faster when you are already fatigued. Otherwise you get complacent just chasing walls at the same pace.
2009-07-27 4:02 PM
in reply to: #2298302

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Subject: RE: IM Swim Training: Don Fink
I don't put a whole bunch of effort into drills either (I'm not fast by any means either, so perhaps I should). I think interval training is more important for speed (over a distance of at least 500yds) once a good (not great) stroke is accomplished. I still do some drill work each session, but most of my warm up sets are done focusing on one part of the stroke, rotation, recovery, pull, whatever.
2009-07-27 4:14 PM
in reply to: #2297494

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Subject: RE: IM Swim Training: Don Fink
Eh, if you are a good swimmer... I would say skip 'em.

Then again, this is coming from the girl who's HIM training plan calls for her to do on average 3:15 a week in the pool.... and I do around 1.5 hours.

2009-07-27 5:39 PM
in reply to: #2297494

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Subject: RE: IM Swim Training: Don Fink

We often do a set of 50 drills at the beginning as a warmup (and I know some really fast swimmers).   do them on :50. it's less than 8 minutes

btw, 8 50s is 400 yds 



Edited by ChrisM 2009-07-27 5:40 PM

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