Quick Dip: How Do I Know If I’m Improving?

A short read for the car journey

Category: Goals | Read time: Under 2 minutes

Knowing what you are working towards makes progress easier to recognise. Start with your goal, then look for evidence that you are getting closer to it.

Suppose your goal is to hold a target pace throughout eight 50m repeats. Previously, you managed the first four before slowing down. Now you can keep six on target. You have not reached all eight yet, but you have made progress.

Make the comparison fair. Use the same stroke, distance, pool length, cycle time and equipment, with the same intended effort. Extra rest or fins can change your times without showing whether you are closer to the original goal.

A technique goal needs evidence too. If you are working on maintaining your stroke as you tire, look for that improvement towards the end of a set. Feedback that your technique now holds together through the final repeats tells you more than completing the movement once during a drill.

Keep a short record linked to your goal. For the pacing example, note the set, target time and how many repeats met it. That gives you something clear to compare when the set comes round again.

Look across several sessions. A difficult day does not erase earlier progress, while one successful attempt still needs practice to become reliable.

Try this: Choose one goal you are already working on. Write down what you can do now and what would show that you are getting closer.

Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team