SNIP
Average triathlete does not train with sufficient pool frequency and duration to solely hinge development on easy FR swimming. Variety is key and focus does shift from general to specific, early season to late season.
Yep a bunch of general stuff but cannot use forum for detailed script in seasonal swim training for triathletes.

My household has given two colligate swimmers and one senior level coach. The two swimmers are my children, one swimming for and the other committed for 2021 to a top 5 D2 swimming programs. They both come with vastly different specialty, one middle distance/ distance FR the other BR/IM specialist.
Our club generationally puts out 10-12 collegiate swimmers annually, kids committing from top 20 D1 all the way to D3 programs.
The short answer is no. The complete answer is far more delicate. The swimming development hinges on targeted, incremental and periodized use of swimming technique, racing skill and targeted use of various sets. To develop and progress forward is a constant layering of technique development, followed up by fitness/ strength layering, often times concurrently in the same cycle of focus. The more novice the swimmer is, the more focus goes on fundamentals of stroke construction while allowing simple endurance/fitness gains from skill focused sets. All intensities are used from simple endurance effort to below and above race pace, though cycled throughout the season. The lines get blurry with stroke training where BK trains much like FR and is aerobic in nature. Same cannot be said for FL/BR, that are very anaerobic in nature no matter the technique. So, yes easy FL/BR do not exist and are oxymoron.
BR prefers component training and frequent efforts at race pace, similar to FL. Component training refers to back or front of stroke, timing and stroke rate. So BR and FL train with typically shorter distance intervals, short to moderate rest at or near the race pace due to stroke mechanics. Historically, in the past, some coaches have asked of swimmers repeats of 800+ FL or BR, however that methodology today is less prevalent.
FR and BK can be trained with fair amounts of easier to moderate efforts, medium to long intervals any time in season. They will produce aerobic development effects if trained at low intensities in sufficient amounts. Average triathlete does not train with sufficient pool frequency and duration to solely hinge development on easy FR swimming. Variety is key and focus does shift from general to specific, early season to late season.
Yep a bunch of general stuff but cannot use forum for detailed script in seasonal swim training for triathletes.

My household has given two colligate swimmers and one senior level coach. The two swimmers are my children, one swimming for and the other committed for 2021 to a top 5 D2 swimming programs. They both come with vastly different specialty, one middle distance/ distance FR the other BR/IM specialist.
Our club generationally puts out 10-12 collegiate swimmers annually, kids committing from top 20 D1 all the way to D3 programs.
The short answer is no. The complete answer is far more delicate. The swimming development hinges on targeted, incremental and periodized use of swimming technique, racing skill and targeted use of various sets. To develop and progress forward is a constant layering of technique development, followed up by fitness/ strength layering, often times concurrently in the same cycle of focus. The more novice the swimmer is, the more focus goes on fundamentals of stroke construction while allowing simple endurance/fitness gains from skill focused sets. All intensities are used from simple endurance effort to below and above race pace, though cycled throughout the season. The lines get blurry with stroke training where BK trains much like FR and is aerobic in nature. Same cannot be said for FL/BR, that are very anaerobic in nature no matter the technique. So, yes easy FL/BR do not exist and are oxymoron.
BR prefers component training and frequent efforts at race pace, similar to FL. Component training refers to back or front of stroke, timing and stroke rate. So BR and FL train with typically shorter distance intervals, short to moderate rest at or near the race pace due to stroke mechanics. Historically, in the past, some coaches have asked of swimmers repeats of 800+ FL or BR, however that methodology today is less prevalent.
FR and BK can be trained with fair amounts of easier to moderate efforts, medium to long intervals any time in season. They will produce aerobic development effects if trained at low intensities in sufficient amounts. Average triathlete does not train with sufficient pool frequency and duration to solely hinge development on easy FR swimming. Variety is key and focus does shift from general to specific, early season to late season.
Yep a bunch of general stuff but cannot use forum for detailed script in seasonal swim training for triathletes.