General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming training zones Rss Feed  
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2009-09-14 6:53 AM

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Expert
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Zürich, Switzerland
Subject: Swimming training zones
I tried to google around to find a reference on swimming training zones but I couldn't.
Looking at the Friel bible, there is a table for swimming zones but it is not clear to me how he is calculating it. In general, for running for example, you can apply a % for each zone and you will have the speed relatively to 10k PB (or 5K).
Now, for swimming it seems that for the best category, he applies a different % than for slower swimmers.

I tried to make my own claculations which can be apply probably to everyone.

Zone 1: 110% +
Zone 2: 110% - 104%
Zone 3: 104% - 96%
Zone 4: 95% - 92%
Zone 5a: 92% - 87%
Zone 5b: 87% - 81%
Zone 5c: 81% - Max

The % is relative to your 100m pace over 1k swim test.
Example: if you recorded 20'00" on 1k, you have 2'00 pace as reference and zone 1 is 2'12 per 100m or slower.

I think it is working well for me with something like 20'00" on 1k test but for better swimmer I don't know.

Do you have a better reference? or any comment on my table?


2009-09-14 11:12 AM
in reply to: #2404460

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Virginia
Subject: RE: Swimming training zones
we used to do a T-30 (timed 30 minute swim) or T-3000 (timed 3,000 yd. swim) to determine pace/ 100.  this pace becomes your "T" time.

If you want to make your own "Zones" I would think your T pace would be about a 75/85% effort, depending on your strength as a swimmer.  you would have to determine the rest of the zones based on that.  Instead of it being a % it would usually turn into: T Pace, T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4, etc. for training purposes.

i would also look into VO2 Max tables (vs. "Zone").  we used these as well.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Swimming training zones Rss Feed