Bronze HIM 20-week plan swim terminology - week 12
BY: Tyrell on 2009-07-29 8:40 AM

I'm on week 12 and have come across a couple terms/workouts I'm not sure of.

Monday: 1650 ladder: start with 275, then 250, 225....until 25.
Do 275 hard, then easy 250, then 225 hard, etc.?

Wednesday: 16x50, descend 1-4, 5-8, 9-15, 13-16
Do laps 1-4 at some pace, then 5-8 sightly slower, then 9-15 slower, etc?

RE: Bronze HIM 20-week plan swim terminology - week 12
BY: newleaf on 2009-07-29 8:43 AM



I don't see anything about the easy vs. hard in the 1650 ladder...

For the descending set, descend in this context means "go faster."  There are two interpretations of this...

a) 1-4 at some pace, 5-8 slightly faster, etc.
b) 1 at some pace, 2 slightly faster, 3 slightly faster, 4 slightly faster, 5 at the same pace as 1, 6 faster, etc.
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RE: Bronze HIM 20-week plan swim terminology - week 12
BY: Tyrell on 2009-07-29 8:53 AM

Thanks for the clarification on "descend."  I think I'll probably do the second option you listed.

RE: Bronze HIM 20-week plan swim terminology - week 12
BY: Tyrell on 2009-07-29 3:04 PM

Anyone know what this "ladder" business is all about?

RE: Bronze HIM 20-week plan swim terminology - week 12
BY: ChrisM on 2009-07-29 3:07 PM



A ladder set is one that usually ascends and descends on similar distances.   ie., 100, 200, 300, 400, 300, 200, 100.   The challenge is keeping the 100 intervals the same, so you would get twice as much rest on the 200, 3x on the 300, etc., but as you go back down from the 400 you get 1/3, as much rest, 1/2 as much...etc.

eta - looks like your ladder just goes down.  That is common as well, as is just going up
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