I’m interested in everyone’s opinion’s on the best swim specific resources (ie books etc) for planning a swimming season. I tend to see two types of swim literature:
Swim specific literature that is wholly focused on a collection of ‘sets’ targeting specific events. Like, ‘to train for a 200m free do this set, or that set’. But almost nothing on ‘so you want to race LC middle distance free in 6months time, how do I get prepared?’ Triathlon literature (or ‘swim for triathlon’ literature) which does address this season/session planning question, but does it in a way that is purely focused on triathlon swimming - ie long steady open water swimming.
I have a few specific swim goals this year - both in the pool and surf ironman which I would like to take more seriously this year. Surf ironman tends to be close to 400m, and the pool goals I have are in the 100m-200m-400m. I like to plan my own training, and am looking for good resources on HOW to make a season plan (not to just buy a pre-written plan).
Given I just finished Garry Sr’s book on technique, I think I would have really enjoyed Gary Sr’s book on this topic - if it existed! He suggests in his book that there is a lot of good literature on this topic - but I’m not sure what literature on this is good and what is not.
I’m interested in everyone’s opinion’s on the best swim specific resources (ie books etc) for planning a swimming season. I tend to see two types of swim literature:
Swim specific literature that is wholly focused on a collection of ‘sets’ targeting specific events. Like, ‘to train for a 200m free do this set, or that set’. But almost nothing on ‘so you want to race LC middle distance free in 6months time, how do I get prepared?’ Triathlon literature (or ‘swim for triathlon’ literature) which does address this season/session planning question, but does it in a way that is purely focused on triathlon swimming - ie long steady open water swimming.
I have a few specific swim goals this year - both in the pool and surf ironman which I would like to take more seriously this year. Surf ironman tends to be close to 400m, and the pool goals I have are in the 100m-200m-400m. I like to plan my own training, and am looking for good resources on HOW to make a season plan (not to just buy a pre-written plan).
Given I just finished Garry Sr’s book on technique, I think I would have really enjoyed Gary Sr’s book on this topic - if it existed! He suggests in his book that there is a lot of good literature on this topic - but I’m not sure what literature on this is good and what is not.
Thanks everyone!
Swimming Fastest by Ernie Maglischo is good. It’s the most comprehensive overview of training. It explains everything in detail. It takes a more ‘traditional’ approach to training.
Excellent thanks everyone for the recommendations.
I actually found a random bookshop in the blue mountains that had a hard copy of the sweetenham book that i could buy online - look forward to it arriving. i’ll check out the other references too.
in the 3-4months leading up to ironman wa (my first full distance) i averaged 2x(30min-45min) specific pool sessions a week, so i’m starting from a really low base of specific training - just did hard 100m repeats, quite limited and pretty repetitive but probably reasonably effective. i ended up with a 58:20 swim leg, where i had huge issues on the second ‘half lap’ trying to get through slower swimmers on their first lap - i think cost me 2-3-4 mins probably. i do spend many hours a week at my local beach, usually on my various boards per week which does help me a lot though im sure. im only 5"7 and probably average size hands/feet so not the best body shape but after reading Gary’s book I realise i do have hyper mobile ankles and knees (not as much with my shoulders unfortunately).
anyways point is i’m really keen to see how i can go if i get up to a consistent 4x1hr pool sessions per week. target events will be 100m-200m-400m, surf ironman (generally ~400m), and i’d like to do alright in my local ocean swim series next year - https://oceanswims.com/pittwater-series/. by the way anyone in the sydney area should give these swims a go if you havent already they are great fun!
You can check out Sprint Salo by Dave Salo and Brent Rushall/USRPT. They have both put a lot of information online and for free.
If you are targeting pool swims in the 100 - 400 range which is a fairly wide range in competition, you’ll want to get in the weight room in a significant way.
If you’d like to talk, I’m happy to set up a time to talk to answer any questions.
Thats very kind of you - I will msg you. The Sweetenham book arrives today so I think I will give it a read to get at least a basic idea sense of the process in swimming, then try to get a plan together. Thanks again!