SET TO RACE
BY DA N AT K I N S
I
t’s getting close to race week, you’re in mini-taper mode but don’t
want to switch off altogether. A quality swim set is perfect as it’s
going to get the heart rate cracking, the race skills up to scratch
but no impact means you can stay on track for a great race.
Here’s what Dan Atkins, Head Coach at Triathlon Australia’s National
Performance Centre on the Gold Coast, would put you through:
Session 1- Sprint distance 750-20-5km
Total distance can be between 3-4.5km (dependant on swim
ability)
Purpose of the session is to test your fitness as a key session in your
lead up, to be done 10-7days out from the event, shifting between
the 100’s and 50m efforts for pace changes needed when starting
and going around turning cans come race day.
Warm Up (900m in total):
4 x 200m
1.
Swim easy
2.
50m kick build to T4 pace 50m (pull with kick board) x 2
3.
Pull band build each 100m with focus on stroke rate
change as you build
4.
Paddles band (can add pull buoy) 4 x 50m build 1-4, 30
rest between each
100m backstroke
Primer (600-900m): (aim is to get Heart rate up to prepare for the
main)
500-800m Pull Paddles:
75m build (build to a pace that feels like 400m race pace) then finish
to the wall with 25m scull (for activation of triceps and lats). Repeat
5-8 times.
100m easy swim
Main set (1000m x 1-2): (session is to prepare to race at your best!!!)
3 x 100m on short rest (10secs only, so set time base based on your
threshold pace)
1 x 100m on long rest (approx. 30-45 secs enough time to get HR
down and set for the hard 50m)
50m pushed hard! (have 60-80 sec rest) easy 50m recovery
2min static rest then
50m dived or pushed at breakout speed (swimming term for off the
block place, hard) should be aiming at around 1sec faster than the
last 50m effort on 30 secs rest
4 x 100m descend pace on 40 secs rest between each (focus for
these 100’s is by the 3rd one you should be able to hold the pace
you averaged above for first set of 100’s, then the 4th faster than
your average holding pace)
50m easy = 1000m
28 | MULTISPORT MAGAZINE
If possible and fit enough, do set x 2
Warm down (300-800m): As needed but make sure if 10 days out
you aim to flush the lactate best you can and get through another
300-800m!!!!
Session 2- Standard distance 1500/40/10
Purpose of this session is to test your 1500m fitness in lead up
approximately 7-14 days out from event. Total distance dependant
on ability can be between 3-4.5km in total.
Warm up (900m):
300m easy swim
8 x 50m (drills swim for activation) all with 20-30 secs rest
1.
1 arm freestyle (25m switch arms)
2.
25m scull 25m T3 swim (scull will activate arms and lats,
follow this with swim and you should feel more length
per stroke)
3.
Straight arm recovery swim (aim is to “over reach” to give
more length per stroke)
4.
Swim 50m at a 400m race pace X 2
200m kick – 50m T4 (race pace legs, to prepare for main) 150m easy
Primer (400-600m): (aim is to get HR up to prepare for the main set)
2 x 50m – 25-30 secs rest between
1.
25m T4 (slightly faster than your 400m speed) 25m easy
2.
50m build (build to a faster then 400m speed)
100m T3 (around your 1000m pace) 60secs rest
Repeat 2-3 times (dependant on ability)
100m easy
Main (2200m): 1500m prep
2 x 100m T4 on 10-15 sec rest (really focussed on that initial off the
start pace, even could start the 1st with a dive!!!)
4 x 200m T3 ( just slower than your 1000m pace) on 20-30 sec rest
100 easy – 1100m
Repeat complete set for second time.
Warm down: As needed. If you’re a strong swimmer put on some
paddles for some strength under fatigue focussed on long stroke
development pace.