I've got a meet coming up Feb. 28th/Mar. 1st and I want to focus on the 100 freestyle (want to break 60s; just did a 1:03, have done 1:01.8). I've got 18 weeks until the meet and have constructed a plan based on Janet Evan's periodization cycle in her book and Tudor Bompa's periodization idea of a really hard day followed by an easier day. This is how it looks right now:
Base Training--About 25-30k a week
7 weeks (Goal is to get body fit and ready for next phase)
Mostly aerobic free but also IM and pure speed work
M/W/F--swim 4-5k + weights + run 25-30 minutes
T/H--swim 4-5k (long kick sets/IM work and some pure speed work and starts)
S--swim 5k-6k and do a test race (longer race) at end of workout from blocks--try to beat time every week.
Sundays--Hot tub and flexibility work
Threshold Training--About 20-25k a week
5 weeks (Goal is to get comfortable at faster speeds; "easy speed")
Mostly aerobic threshold workouts but also aerobic free/sprint/IM work
Pretty much the same schedule as above but a slight decrease in workout yardage and slight increase in intensity.
Speed Training--About 15-18k a week
5 weeks (Goal is to work on pure speed and get fast)
Mostly speed workouts w/long rests but also threshold workouts and easy aerobic workouts.
More intense; less yardage; less reps in weight room but heavier and faster; emphasis is still on technique but power is a close second. Increase intensity w/runs as well but shorten them to sprints. Everything I'll do will be fast but on the easy days everything will be extremely easy.
Taper--About 5-10k this week
1 week (Cut back on about everything; sharpen and prepare to race)
Cut weights/running completely two weeks from meet. Do body weight work the week before taper starts. Taper week no dry-land at all.
My weight training is alternating workouts (1-5m rest between sets and try to increase weight every week) Takes about 25-30 minutes.
Workout A
Squats
Incline Bench
Inverted Rows (upper back/rear delt work)
Decline Pushups 3xFailure
Abs
Workout B
Squats
Overhead Press (military press but standing up)
Deadlift
Pull-ups/Chin-ups (rotate) 3xFailure
Prone Bridges 3x1 minute
I hope this isn't too long of a post; thanks for your help.
I know I need to push it harder but I feel so slow right now in the water. I don't have a coach but I've gotten tips on my stroke from a former college D1 swimmer who coaches age group kids. I always feel like I'm sinking and I know I need to keep my hips up but they always seem to sink. I had a severly sprained ankle this summer that affected my swimming for about 10-12 weeks where I wouldn't kick at all and this has probably led to bad habits. I keep my head in a decent position but I can really feel some tightness in my shoulders that is preventing me from having higher elbows that I need. My body roll is pretty minimal, probably because of low elbow height. So pretty much my stroke is crap right now but I know what I need to do to fix it.
To Elise:
My recovery is not all that great. I plan on keeping my workouts to around 3500-4000yds and a long one of around 4500-5000yds and dropping the heavy-lifting regimen to a more endurance based/injury prevention one with a lot of core stability work to help get those hips up.
Thanks a lot for the advice.
I know I need to push it harder but I feel so slow right now in the water. I don't have a coach but I've gotten tips on my stroke from a former college D1 swimmer who coaches age group kids. I always feel like I'm sinking and I know I need to keep my hips up but they always seem to sink. I had a severly sprained ankle this summer that affected my swimming for about 10-12 weeks where I wouldn't kick at all and this has probably led to bad habits. I keep my head in a decent position but I can really feel some tightness in my shoulders that is preventing me from having higher elbows that I need. My body roll is pretty minimal, probably because of low elbow height. So pretty much my stroke is crap right now but I know what I need to do to fix it.
To Elise:
My recovery is not all that great. I plan on keeping my workouts to around 3500-4000yds and a long one of around 4500-5000yds and dropping the heavy-lifting regimen to a more endurance based/injury prevention one with a lot of core stability work to help get those hips up.
Thanks a lot for the advice.