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Workouts

Low-Impact, High-Efficiency: 12 Weeks to Better Swim Technique

The swimming workouts will build skill in the water while also building endurance.

Jake Shoemaker

Written by Jake Shoemaker Last updated on Oct 20, 2021

Workout One

Warmup:

400 easy swim

Warm up set:

2x

  • 200 free cruise @ :20 seconds rest

Main Set:

  • 4 x 100 – 25 kick, 75 swim @ :10 sec rest
  • 4 x 75 – 25 swim, 25 kick, 25 swim @ :10 sec rest
  • 4 x 50 – 25 kick, 25 swim @ :10 sec rest
  • 4 x 25 – 25 kick descending 1-4 @ :10 sec rest

Warmdown:

200 easy

Total: 2000

Workout Two

Warm up:

200 swim, 100 kick, 100 swim

Warm up set:

Super 500 @ :10 sec rest:

  • 25’s – Free drill
  • 50’s – Stroke
  • 75’s – Free swim

25, 25, 50

25, 75

50, 50

75, 25

50, 25, 25

Main set:

10x

  • 100 – 50 drill, 50 swim @ :15 sec rest

odds – free

even – stroke

200 Fast all out effort – Record time

Warmdown:

200 easy

Total: 2300

Workout Three

Warm-up:

3x (swim straight through):

  • 50 freestyle
  • 25 backstroke
  • 25 freestyle kick on back in streamline position (head relaxed back, hips pressed toward the surface)

Warm-up Set:

4x:

  • 50 freestyle gradually building effort throughout @ :10seconds rest
  • 2 x 25 freestyle @ :10 seconds rest – 1st – fast, powerful first 8 strokes, smooth relaxed rest of way; 2nd – build first 8 strokes, fast 6 strokes, smooth rest of way

Main Set:

2x:

  • 8 x 50 freestyle @ :05 seconds recovery 1st set of 8., :10 seconds recovery for 2nd set of 8

Goal: maintain your best average pace throughout set 1. Hold that pace as you fatigue in set 2 OR build pace faster.

:60 recovery

2x:

  • 4 x 25 freestyle kick with kickboard @ :15 recovery try to maintain best average time
  • 1 x 50 free smooth and relaxed body position focus @ :15 recovery

Cooldown:

200 your choice, very relaxed

Total: 2000

Workout Four

Warm-up:

300 choice

Warm-up set:

2x:

  • 3 x 50 free descend effort from 1 to 3 @ :10 rest
  • 4 x 25 kick with board alternating hard, easy @ :15 rest

Main Set:

3 x 200 freestyle @ :30 rest as (100 smooth, 50 build, then take 5 seconds rest, then 50 max effort); goal is to get times of the max 50 and keep them consistent despite fatigue

100 easy backstroke

8x

  • 25 freestyle as: 2x ( 1 – sprint @ :20 rest, 2 – sprint @ :15 rest, 3 – sprint @ :10 rest, 4 – EASY @ :30 rest) – goal is to keep pace same despite fatigue and dropping rest

Cooldown:

2x:

  • 50 drill
  • 50 backstroke
  • 50 easy kick
  • 50 swim choice

all relaxed

Total: 2100

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Two

Workout One

Warmup:

100 swim, 100 kick, 100 IM, 100 drill, 100 swim (SKIDS)

Warm up set:

8 x 50 – 25 kick, 25 swim @ :15 sec rest

Main Set:

8 x 200 @ :20 sec rest

Odds – 50 kick, 50 swim (x2)

Evens – swim at 75% pace

Warmdown:

100 easy

Total: 2600

Workout Two

Warm up:

400 easy

Warm up set:

8 x 75 IM @ :10 sec rest

1,5 – fly, back, breast

2,6 – back, breast, free

3,7 – breast, free, fly

4,8 – free, fly, back

Main set:

4 x 300 swim descending 1-3 (to 90% effort) @ :30 sec rest

Warmdown:

200 easy

Total: 2600

Workout Three

Warm up:

  • 100 swim choice
  • 100 backstroke
  • 50 kick on stomach with hands by side focusing on body position
  • 100 freestyle

Warm up Set:

4 x 75 @ :15 rest as

  1. 75 free pull with buoy focusing on high elbow catch and rotation
  2. 25 free swim, 25 kick on back, 25 free with 6 quick strokes in middle of 25
  3. 75 backstroke smooth focus on kick
  4. 75 free build to fast in first 50 then easy last 25

Main Set:

2x:

5 x 100 @ :05 seconds rest

round 1 aim to hold best average pace for all 5

round 2 aim to start 5 seconds slower than previous average

rounds 4 and 5 descend to under best average

take 30 seconds rest between sets

8x

  • alternating 25 sprint free (hold pace for all), 25 easy backstroke @ :20 seconds recovery

Cool down:

  • 50 easy kick on stomach focus on body position
  • 50 easy backstroke
  • 100 easy free focus on rotation and high elbow pull
  • 50 easy kick

Total: 21000

Workout Four

Warm up:

300 easy choice swim, 100 build to sprint kick with board, 100 freestyle drill

Warm up set:

6 x 50 @ :15/:10/:05 seconds rest maintaining pace to elevate heart rate

Main Set:

  • 300 @ :05 seconds rest – hold steady pace, strong effort but try to avoid building lactic acid
  • 4x 50 @ :30 seconds rest – maintain best average pace (first one should be most difficult but group should be hard)
  • 200 @ :10 seconds rest – same as effort for 300
  • 4x 50 @ :30 – same as previous 50s
  • 100 @ : 15 rest (same as above)
  • 4x 50 @ :30 rest maintaining same best average
  • 1x 200 pull, steady, focused on high elbow pull

Cool down:

200 easy

Total: 2100

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Three

Workout One

Warm up:

400 easy swim

Warm up set:

2x

  • 200 free cruise @ :20 seconds rest

Main Set:

25 x 100 (:60 sec rest in between each set of 5)

  • 1-5 – Free @ :20 sec rest (easy warmup effort)
  • 6-10 – 25 drill, 75 free @ :20 sec rest
  • 11-15 – Kick (Descend within the 100’s)@ :10 sec rest
  • 16-20 – IM @ :15 sec rest
  • 21-25 – Free @ :15 sec rest

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 2600

Workout Two

Warm up:

500 SKIDS

Warm up set:

8 x 25 – kick @ :10 sec rest

8 x 50 – 25 drill, 25 swim @ :15 sec rest

8 x 75 – free/stroke/free @ :10 sec rest

Main set:

8 x 100 – free @ :10 sec rest (descensing 1-4, 5-8)

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2700

Workout Three

Warm up:

200 freestyle, 100 freestyle kick with board, 50 easy backstroke, 50 freestyle build

Warm up set:

8×50 build @ :20 seconds rest as 25 easy free drill, 25 build free to sprint

Main Set:

2x:

  • 4 x 50 kick @ :30 seconds rest with max effort over last 12.5 yards
  • 200 pull focus on body position @ :20 seconds rest
  • 50 free max effort @ :05 rest
  • 50 back super easy @ :30

2 x 75 @ :15 rest pull building last 50

4 x 50 @ :30 rest pull building last 25

2 x 25 @ :45 seconds rest max effort

2x

50 back easy, 50 free easy

Cool down:

200 your choice, very relaxed

Total: 2400

Workout Four

Warm up:

200 free, 100 drill, 100 kick, 100 choice

Warm up set:

8 x 75 free @ :20, :15, :10, :05 recovery building from smooth to fast over course of 75s

Main Set:

2x:

  • 8x 50 freestyle

first set of 8: 5 seconds recovery

second set of 8: 10 seconds recovery

Your goal is to maintain your best average pace throughout set 1, then hold that pace or even increase your pace throughout set 2 .

rest :30

200 freestyle pull

Cool down:

200 alternating backstroke and kick

Total: 2900

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Four

Workout One

Warm up:

200 swim, 200 stroke, 100 kick, 100 swim

Warm up set:

  • 4 x 75 Free @ :10 rest
  • 4 x 50 Stroke @ :10 rest
  • 4 x 25 Drill @ :10 rest

Main Set:

3 x 400 Free @ :60 sec rest

  • 1- 50% effort
  • 2- 75% effort
  • 3- 90% effort

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2600

Workout Two

Warm up:

200 swim, 100 kick, 100 swim

Warm up set:

Super 500 @ :10 sec rest:

  • 25’s – Free drill
  • 50’s – Stroke
  • 75’s – Free swim

25, 25, 50

25, 75

50, 50

75, 25

50, 25, 25

Main set:

300 fast all-out for time

100 backstroke easy

8x 100 – 50 drill, 50 swim @ :10 sec rest

  • odds – free (build the swim portion)
  • even – backstroke

100 easy choice

300 fast all out effort – record time and compare to previous 300

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2600

Workout Three

Warm up:

200 free easy, 100 backstroke, 50 kick, 50 free build

Warm up Set:

8 x 50 @ :15/:05 rest alternating 50 pull steady, 50 drill nice and easy focus on body position and rotation

200 free build middle 100

Main Set:

4x:

  • 200 swim @ :10 seconds rest not building lactate but swimming steady
  • 4 x 25 max effort @ :30 rest

100 back easy

2 x 200 free pull with high elbow and body position focus

Cool down:

200 choice easy

Total: 2900

Workout Four

Warm up:

8 x 50 alternating freestyle, backstroke, kick, drill focus on chest and head position, high elbow pull

Warm up set:

500 swim as:

  • 100 smooth free
  • 200 free w/every other 25 quick turnover
  • 100 free focus on rotation & distance per stroke
  • 100 backstroke

Main Set:

4 x 100 @ :10 rest, hold best average

8 x 75 @ :15 rest with goal of maintaining pace of best average 100 pace despite fatigue

8 x 50 @ :30 rest with goal of faster than best average 100 pace by at least 1.5 seconds per 50

Cool down:

200 choice easy

Total: 2500

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Five

Workout One

Warm up:

400 easy swim

Warm up set:

10 x 25 @ :10 rest

  • odds- drill swim (stroke or free)
  • evens- swim (stroke or free)

Main Set:

10 x 200

  • 1-2 Free @ :15 rest
  • 3-4 IM @ :15 rest
  • 5-6 Free @ : 10 rest
  • 7-8 50 kick, 50 swim (x2) @ :10 rest
  • 9-10 Free @ :5 rest

Warm down:

150 easy

Total: 2900

Workout Two

Warm up:

400 easy swim

Warm up set:

6 x 50 free @ :10 rest build effort throughout the first 5 and swim easy for last 25

Main set:

15 x 100

  • 1-5 – Free @ :20 sec rest (easy warmup effort)
  • :30 rest
  • 6-10 – 50 drill, 50 free @ :20 rest
  • :30 rest
  • 11-15 – Kick, descending within each 50 – max effort for last 25 @ :30 rest
  • :30 rest
  • 16 x 25 @ :20, :15, :10, :05 rest per set of 4 – hold best average time

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 3000

Workout Three

Warm-up:

300 alternating freestyle, backstroke, kick, drill focus on chest and head position, high elbow pull

Warm-up Set:

500 swim as:

  • 100 build free
  • 200 free w/every other 25 quick turnover
  • 100 free focus on rotation & distance per stroke
  • 100 backstroke

Main Set:

5x 100 @ :10 rest hold best average

4 x 75 @ :15 rest with goal of maintaining pace of best average 100s despite fatigue

12 x 50 @ :30 rest with goal of faster than best average 100 pace by at least 1.5 seconds per 50

Cooldown:

200 easy choice

Total: 2400

Workout Four

Warm up:

200 freestyle, 100 freestyle kick with board, 50 easy backstroke, 50 freestyle build

Warm up set:

8×50 build @ :20 rest as 25 easy free drill, 25 build free to sprint

100 backstroke easy

Main Set:

2x:

  • 6 x 50 kick @ :30 rest with max effort over last 12.5 yards
  • 300 pull focus on body position @ :20 rest
  • 2 x 50 free max effort @ :05 rest
  • 50 back super easy @ :30

4x 75 @ :15 rest pull building last 50

4 x 50 @ :30 rest pull building last 25

4 x 25 @ :45 rest max effort

Cool down:

2x:

  • 50 back easy
  • 50 free easy

Total: 3100

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Six

Workout One

Warm up:

500 easy swim

Warm up set:

4 x

  • 25 – drill
  • 50 – swim
  • 25 – kick @ :10 rest

Main Set:

5 x 100 kick descending 1-5 @ :15 rest

8 x 125: 100 free, 25 kick @ :10 rest

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 2500

Workout Two

Warm up:

500 SKIDS

Warm up set:

8 x 50 drill/swim by 25 @ :10 rest

Main set:

6 x 100 @ :20 rest
Odd – free
Even – kick

4 x 150 as 50 free, 50 stroke, 50 free @ :15 rest

2 x 200 free descending 1-2, 3-4 @ :20 rest

200 swim all out – record time

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 2800

Workout Three

Warm-up:

400 swim, 100 kick, 100 drill, 200 build

Main Set:

2x:
6 x 100 – free descending to hard race pace in sets of 3 @ :15 rest
200 kick steady with board

100 back easy

12 x 25 max effort @ :30 rest, every 4th easy

Cooldown:

300 easy

Total: 2300

Workout Four

Warm up:

200 easy, 100 kick, 100 build, 100 backstroke

Warm up set:

8×50 every third quick @ :15 rest

Main Set:

6 x 200 @ : 20 rest with middle 100 at race pace, last 50 easy drill
8 x 50 kick with board @ :30 rest focusing on hard middle 25

Cool down:

300 super easy

Total: 2800

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Seven

Workout One

Warm up:

100 free, 100 stroke, 100 free, 100 kick, 100 free

Warm up set:

Super 500 @ :10 sec rest:
25’s – Free drill
50’s – Stroke
75’s – Free swim

Super 500: 25, 25, 50, 25, 75, 50, 50, 75, 25, 50, 25, 25

Main Set:

2 x 200 free (moderate) @ :15 rest
2 x 100 kick @ :15 rest
2 x 200 free 75% @ :20 rest
2 x 100 drill @ :15 rest
2 x 200 free 90% @ :30 rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2900

Workout Two

Warm up:

400 easy swim

Warm up set:

8 x 75 kick/drill/swim @ :15 rest

Main set:

3 x

1 x 50 kick @ :10 rest
1 x 100 free 90% effort @ :20 rest
1 x 150: 50 drill/50 swim/50 drill @ :10 rest
1 x 200 free @ 75%

:30 sec rest in between each set

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2700

Workout Three

Warm-up:

200 freestyle, 100 freestyle kick with board, 50 easy backstroke, 50 freestyle build

Warm-up Set:

4×50 build @ :20 seconds as

  • 25 easy free drill
  • 25 build free to sprint
  • 100 backstroke easy

Main Set:

2x:
8 x 50 kick @ :30 rest with max effort over last 12.5 yards
2 x 100 pull smooth focus on body position @ :20 rest
50 free max effort @ :05 rest
50 back super easy @ :30

8 x 75 @ :30 rest pull building last 50

Cooldown:

3x:

  • 50 back easy
  • 50 free easy

Total: 3000

Workout Four

Warm up:

4 x 100 alternate free/kick/drill/choice by 100

Main Set:

28 x 50 free:

  • 1 – 4 @ :20 rest build to fast through first 37.5 then easy
  • 5 – 12 @ :10 hold best average time
  • 13 – 20 @ : 30 rest, alternating MAX effort and easy backstroke by 50
  • 21 – 28 @ :05 hold best average try to be as close to average of 5 – 12
  • 8 x 75 @ :15 rest alternating back/drill/freestyle kick on back by 25 within each 75

Cool down:

200 easy

Total: 2600

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Eight

Workout One

Warm up:

300 free, 200 drill

Warm up set:

4 x @ :10 sec rest

  • 25 – kick
  • 50 – drill
  • 75 – free

Main Set:

8 x 125 @ :15 rest

1,5 – 25 kick, 75 swim
2,6 – 25 swim, 25 kick, 50 swim
3,7 – 50 swim, 25 kick, 25 swim
4,8 – 75 swim, 25 kick

2 x 400 @ :30 rest
1 – 100 swim, 100 drill (x2)
2 – 90% effort

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 3000

Workout Two

Warm up:

500 SKIDS

Warm up set:

8 x 75 IM @ :10 rest
1,5 – fly, back, breast
2,6 – back, breast, free
3,7 – breast, free, fly
4,8 – free, fly, back

4 x 25 drill @ :10 rest
4 x 50 swim (not free) @ :10 rest
4 x 75 descending by 25 @ :10 rest
4 x 100 kick/drill/swim/kick @ :10 rest

Main set:

6 x 100 free descending

1-3, 4-6 (#6 is all out effort) @ :15 sec rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2900

Workout Three

Warm-up:

300 swim

Warm-up Set:

8 x 50 build to fast freestyle
100 easy back

Main Set:

300 max effort (get time)
200 super easy
200 max effort (aim for 2 seconds per 100 faster than 300 time)
300 super easy
100 max effort (aim for 4 seconds faster per 100 than 300)

Cooldown:

300 easy

Total: 2200

Workout Four

Warm up:

500 easy swim

Warm up set:

12 x 50 alternating drill, steady kick, smooth swim by 50 @ :20 rest

Main Set:

8 x 100 @ :10 rest – first 10 yards quick, remaining swim smooth focus on technique and body position

Cool down:

300 – backstroke, kick, free by 25

Total: 2200 – recovery focus

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Nine

Workout One

Warm up:

10 x 100 @ :10 rest

Warm up set:

8 x 25 @ :15 sec rest (make it more challenging by decreasing 1 breathe on each if you are able)
1-2: 4 breaths
3-4: 3 breaths
5-6: 2 breaths
7-8: 1 breath

Main Set:

1 x 200 free cruise @ :20 rest
1 x 250 IM (100 free at the end) @ :20 rest
1 x 300 free 75% @ :30 sec rest
1 x 250 IM (100 free at the end) @ :20 rest
1 x 200 free cruise

200 free all-out, record time

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2800

Workout Two

Warm up:

200 free, 200 stroke

Warm up set:

4 x 100 (50 drill, 25 free, 25 back) @ :15 rest

Main set:

4x
2 x 75 kick/swim/kick @ :15 rest
2 x 125 free descending 1-2 @ :20 rest
2 x 75 drill/swim/drill @ :15 rest

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 3100

Workout Three

Warm-up:

300 choice

Warm-up Set:

2x:

  • 6 x 50 free descending effort from 1 to 3,4 to 6 @ :10 rest
  • 8 x 25 kick with board alternating hard, easy @ :15 rest

Main Set:

4 x 250 freestyle @ :45 rest as (100 smooth, 50 build, then take 5 seconds rest, then 100 max effort)

Your goal is to get times of the max 100 and keep them consistent despite fatigue.

100 easy backstroke

8 x 25 freestyle as: 2x ( 1 – sprint @ :20 rest, 2 – sprint @ :15 rest, 3 – sprint @ :10 rest, 4 – EASY @ :30 rest) – goal is to keep pace same despite fatigue and dropping rest.

Cooldown:

2x: (50 drill, 50 backstroke, 50 easy kick, 50 swim choice) all relaxed

Total: 3000

Workout Four

Warm up:

100 swim, 100 kick, 100 IM, 100 drill, 100 swim (SKIDS)

Warm up set:

8 x 50 – 25 kick, 25 swim @ :15 rest

Main Set:

8 x 200 @ :30 rest
Odds – 50 kick, 50 swim (x2)
Evens – swim with middle 100 at race pace focusing on kick, last 50 technique focus

Cool down:

200 easy

Total: 2700

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Ten

Workout One

Warm up:

100 free, 100 stroke, 100 free, 100 kick, 100 free

Warm up set:

8 x 50 – 25 kick, 25 swim @ :15 rest

Main Set:

4 x 125 free 75% effort @ :15 rest
4 x 25 all out kick @ :30 rest
4 x 125 IM (50 free at the end) @ :20 rest
4 x 25 sprint swim @ :30 rest
4 x 125 free 75% effort @ :15 rest
4 x 25 sprint kick @ :30 rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 2900

Workout Two

Warm up:

300 easy

Warm up set:

8 x 100 @ : 15
1,5 – Easy Swim
2,6 – Kick
3,7 – Drill
4,8 – Stroke swim

Main set:

10 x 200
Odds – 75 swim, 50 fast, 75 swim @ :20 rest
Evens – 25 fast, 100 moderate, 25 fast @ :20 rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 3300

Workout Three

Warm-up:

300 swim easy

Warm-up Set:

8 x 50 @ :15 rest build first 25, easy backstroke 2nd 25

Main Set:

2 x 50 max effort kick @ :60 recovery
100 easy backstroke
200 strong effort free
200 easy swim

2 x 400 @ :05 recovery – aim to push, but stay aerobic on #1 and drop pace to race pace on 2nd

Cooldown:

300 super easy

Total: 2400

Workout Four

Warm up:

500 swim easy

Main Set:

32 x 50 @ :10 recovery – stay aerobic (alternating 1 – smooth free, 2 – steady kick, 3 – drill with body position, rotation focus, 4 – turnover focus)

Cool down:

300 super easy

Total: 2400

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Eleven

Workout One

Warm up:

100 free, 100 drill, 100 free, 100 drill, 100 free

Warm up set:

12 x 75
1-4 kick/drill/swim @ :15 rest
5-8 IM (fly/back/breast, back/breast/free, breast/free/fly, free/fly/back) @ :15 rest
9-12 free @ :10 rest

Main Set:

4 x 200 free descending 1-4@ :20 rest
8 x 100 50 stroke/50 free @ :15 rest

Cool down:

200 easy

Total: 3200

Workout Two

Warm up:

400 easy

Warm up set:

Super 500 @ :10 rest:
25’s – free drill
50’s – stroke
75’s – free swim

25, 25, 50
25, 75
50, 50
75, 25
50, 25, 25

6 x 100 IM @ :20 rest

Main set:

2 x
300 swim @ :10 rest
200 kick @ :20 rest
200 swim @ :10 rest
100 kick @ :10 rest
100 swim sprint @ :30 rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 3500

Workout Three

Warm-up:

200 swim. 100 drill, 200 swim, build to fast

Warm-up Set:

4 x 50 @ :10 rest descending effort 1-3 and then easy back for 4

Main Set:

10 x 100 @ :30 rest – maintain best average. Should start to be digging to hold pace at #6

100 back easy

8 x 50 kick @ :15 rest (25 easy, 25 max effort)

Cooldown:

300 easy

Total: 2500

Workout Four

Warm up:

500 swim choice mixing in drill and kick

Warm up set:

10 x 50 free @ :15 rest with every 5th drill and 1-4, 6-9 as descending effort

Main Set:

500 @ :30 rest 100 smooth, 300 strong, 50 easy kick, 50 max effort
3 x 100 @ :15 rest steady pace
500 @ :30 rest as smooth 250 then race pace 250
10 x 50 pull @ :30 aiming to work at anaerobic, hard effort throughout
100 back easy
200 kick alternating easy/hard by 25

Cool down:

300 easy

Total: 3400

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Week Twelve

Workout One

Warm up:

200 free, 200 kick, 200 drill

Warm up set:

4 x 100 – 25 drill/50 swim/25 drill @ :15 sec rest
4 x 50 Kick @ :15 sec rest

Main Set:

15 x 100
1-5 Free @ :10 rest
6-10 IM @ :15 rest
11-15 Free @ :10 rest (these should be at 75% effort)

200 free all-out, record time, compare to week one

Warm down:

100 easy

Total: 3000

Workout Two

Warm up:

500 SKIDS

Warm up set:

10 x 50
1-5 Stroke @ :15 rest
6-10 Free @ :15 rest

Main set:

5 x
100 Free @ :10 rest
75 Kick @ :10 rest
100 Free @ :10 rest
25 Sprint @ :20 rest
100 Free @ :10 rest

Warm down:

200 easy

Total: 3200

Workout Three

Warm-up:

5x (swim straight through):
50 freestyle
25 backstroke
25 freestyle kick on back in streamline position (head relaxed back, hips pressed toward the surface)

Warm-up Set:

4x:
4 x 50 freestyle gradually building effort throughout each @ :10 rest
4 x 25 freestyle @ :10 rest – 1st – fast, powerful first 8 strokes, smooth & relaxed rest of way; 2nd – build first 8 strokes, fast 6 strokes, smooth rest of way

Main Set:

3x:
8 x 50 freestyle @ :05 recovery 1st set of 8, :10 recovery for 2nd set of 8, :15 rest for last set of 8

Goal: maintain your best average pace throughout set 1; hold that pace as you fatigue in set 2, give amazing effort for last set

:60 recovery

4x:
6x 25 freestyle kick with kickboard @ :15 recovery try to maintain best average time
1 x 50 free smooth and relaxed body position focus @ :15 recovery

Cooldown:

200 your choice, very relaxed

Total: 2900

Workout Four

Warm up:

300 choice

Warm up set:

2x:
6 x 50 free descending effort from 1 to 3,4 to 6 @ :10 rest
8 x 25 kick with board alternating hard, easy @ :15 rest

Main Set:

4 x 400 freestyle @ :45 rest as (150 smooth, 50 build, then take 5 seconds rest, then 150max effort, 50 easy); goal is to get times of the max 150 and keep them consistent despite fatigue

100 easy backstroke

12 x 25 freestyle as: 3x ( 1 – sprint @ :20 rest, 2 – sprint @ :15 rest, 3 – sprint @ :10 rest, 4 – EASY @ :30 rest) – goal is to keep pace the same despite fatigue and dropping rest

Cool down:

2x: (50 drill, 50 backstroke, 50 easy kick, 50 swim choice) all relaxed

Total: 3800

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Jake Shoemaker

About Jake Shoemaker

Jake Shoemaker has been involved in athletics his entire life. Growing up as the youngest of four, Jake played every sport imaginable, but eventually gravitated toward endurance sports during high school. As a swimmer and runner, Jake took up triathlon after watching his brother win the Under 23 World Championship in 2005 and developed a strong passion for the sport.

Jake graduated from Dartmouth College in 2012 with a degree in American History. While at college, Jake competed for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He also taught a swim class for faculty and students who were unable to swim.

Upon graduation, Jake earned his elite license to become a professional triathlete. At the same time, he also began a tenure as a youth mentor and tutor at a high school for under-resourced teens. Jake has extensive experience as a club swim coach, a cross country run coach, and a private triathlon coach.

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