ashurst bike club

2009

 swim zone - sessions

 

 

Sessions

 

Hypoxic Sessions:-

 

Hypoxic sessions are designed to starve the tissues of oxygen by controlling the number of breaths taken each length.  A build up of CO2 in the tissues and blood stream can leave you gasping for breath - this sessions helps your body learn to buffer high CO2 level.

 

session plan H-1 here

 

L6 Sessions:-

 

L6 is short, high intensity swimming to generate high levels of lactate. The session is designed to raise your ability to tolerate lactate generated by swimming at a pace above your normal race speeds.  The session will also include continued drill sets and also openwater skills.

 

session plan 6-4 here

session plan 6-3 here

session plan 6-2 here

session plan 6-1 here

 

L5 Sessions:-

 

L5 is equivalent to 400m time trial pace and can not be sustained for longer intervals.  The sessions are designed to boost your VO2 max (ability to turn oxygen into energy) by working at intensities which specifically target aerobic development. The intervals will be hard enough to work the aerobic system and long enough to avoid focusing on the lactate system.

 

session plan 5-8 here

session plan 5-7 here

session plan 5-6 here

session plan 5-5 here

session plan 5-4 here

session plan 5-3 here

session plan 5-2 here

session plan 5-1 here

 

L4 Sessions:-

 

L4 is equivalent to 1000m time trial pace.  The sessions are designed to establish a solid endurance base using long sets with full recoveries and maintaining stroke and kick conditioning through the drill sets

 

session plan 4-6 here 

session plan 4-5 here

session plan 4-4 here

session plan 4-3 here

session plan 4-2 here

session plan 4-1 here

 

Test Sessions:-

 

1500m Time Trial Session Here

400m Time Trial Session Here

30minute Distance Trial Session here

 

Drill Descriptions

 

Bilateral Breathe - breathe on alternate sides every 3 strokes - this promotes body roll and is a good skill for open water swimming.

 

Popeye Breathing - as you breath focus on only one goggle above the water line with minimal head movement looking to side and ahead, never behind.

 

Kick Hands in Front/Hands in Pockets - utilise good body balance position and attempt without kick board, take note of any difference between the two drills.

 

3/4 Catch-Up Stroke - swim at L2 pace, concentrating on maintaining both hands in the front quadrant i.e. in front of your shoulder line, within each stroke cycle.

 

Single Arm Drill - lead with lower arm, concentrate on high elbow, hand entry and catch - if a struggle at first use a swim float or pull buoy to support leading arm (use of fins optional).

 

Fists - normal front crawl with clenched fists, maintain a high elbow within water and promote this with high elbow recovery - gives understanding of pull forces on arm.

 

Front Scull - Lay in front balance position and use pull buoy or light kick with fins, breathe to front, with both arms fully extended, elbows above hands, move hands from in to out as if over a ball, feel water pressure against palms - you will move forward.

 

Rear Scull - Lay in front balance position and use pull buoy or light kick with fins, breathe to front, keeping both elbows tucked into sides, pushing back from 90 degrees to fully extended, feel power generated in final part of stroke.

 

Doggy Paddle -  Normal light kick, swim with head up, swim in doggy paddle style to practice the catch of the stroke, arm recovery with palm facing up underwater.

 

Kick on side - lead with lower arm, flutter kick on side, roll onto back to breath - if a struggle at first use a swim float or pull buoy to support leading arm.

 

Front Balance - with arms by your side (hands in pockets), lie face down in the water, lower your head into the water until you feel your hips at the surface, flutter kick over 25m breathing to the front.

 

Pace Build - build from L3 to L6 (session pace) to gain a feel for the change in pace and session speed