Swim Time Trial

A previous tip talked about the importance of doing a low HR run tests on the track to measure your running fitness over time. It is also important to measure your fitness in the pool doing more than just the usual timed sets. Though the thought may not be too appealing, especially if you train in a 25 m pool, 2000-3000 m time trials (you need to swim 3.8k right!?) can be a great way to monitor your swim fitness. It is best if you have a training partner record your 100 m splits and count the laps for you so you can just focus on putting in a maximum effort. You want to be good and warm to start ~1000 m WU, and the recorder can do 50′s during your 100′s and get a workout in too. As you get more fit there will be less drift in your 100 m splits over the course of the test, and those numbers on the clock will make you smile.