Steve Tarpinian's Sprint Tri Main Set 2Cvii

Swimming, November 20, 2024

Building your ability to sustain your threshold pace in a swim is an important capability for triathletes and open-water swimmers. These sessions further develop that ability by progressing the intensity as you work through the workout, but maintaining the Rest Interval (RI). The session gets tougher, as you work through it. This session will benefit triathletes of all distances, as well as other open-water swimmers.

For swimmers who are after a workout greater than 3,000m.

Read this article here for an explanation of Swim Intensity.

The inspiration for these workouts comes from an article by Steve Tarpinian in an old issue of Triathlete.

  • 1,000 WU;
  • 20x 25 Drill;
  • 12x
    • 50m Build 1-4 20RI;
    • 100m Build 1-4 30RI;
  • 300 CD (3,600)

For the Warm Up (WU) start with a 1,000m. During the warm-up feel free to stop and stretch as needed.  It doesn’t need to be a continuous swim.

Follow this with a set of drills. Complete twenty, 25m reps of drills (five times through the four drills below). Take a pause of about ten seconds after each drill. It’s a chance to grab a drink, review the programme, and think about the next drill you will do. If you need 15-20 seconds or longer you are welcome to take it because the rest duration isn’t physiologically critical to the aim of this set. Having a quick break is neurologically critical though, so make sure you don’t just roll straight from one rep to the next.

The main set is made up of twelve reps. Each rep has two sub-reps to it. Start with 50m then take a 20 second Rest Interval (RI). The next sub-rep is 100m with a 30 second Rest Interval (RI). Start the first rep at an easy to moderate pace, then build your pace for the second rep swim fast, then faster for the third rep. Swim your fourth rep at your fastest pace, then for your fifth rep drop the pace back to easy to moderate pace. Continue to build your pace over each grouping of four reps.

For the Cool Down (CD) swim 300m. Unlike the previous sets which have to be freestyle, the Cool Down (CD) (like the Warm Up (WU)) can be any stroke you wish to swim.  You can also stop and rest after any length.  I encourage you to stop and stretch during the cool-down.

If you would like further advice feel free to contact me.

I am the Head Coach & Director of Qwik Kiwi Coaching.

I specialise in assisting first-timers and recreational athletes to achieve their sporting goals. I can be contacted at coachray@coachray.nz and 021 348 729.

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