Quick Dip: Why Isn’t Every Length Fast?

A short read for the car journey

Category: Training  | Read time: Under 2 minutes

At training, not every length is supposed to be race speed. Your coach uses different paces because each part of a session has a different job.

Easy and steady swimming can give you time to hold your technique, practise a skill or get ready for the next part of the session. Faster swimming helps you practise speed, race pace and how to keep your technique when the effort rises.

The fastest swimmer in a set is not always the swimmer completing it best. If your coach asks for steady swimming but you sprint the first few lengths, you may become tired too early and find it harder to hold your technique.

Following the requested pace is a skill. Listen for words such as easy, steady, strong, fast and race pace. Your coach may also give you a target time or ask you to judge the effort for yourself.

Your coach may also ask you to count your strokes for each length. Your stroke count can help show how efficiently you are swimming. A lower stroke count is not always better, so your coach will also look at your technique and how well each stroke moves you through the water.

If you are unsure, ask what the pace should feel like. Learning the difference between the paces will help you understand your training and use each part of the session properly.

Swimming at the pace your coach asks for is part of training well.

Ask your coach: How can I tell if I am swimming at the right pace?

Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team