The 12 Days Of Christmas Swim Workout

Okay, we’re a day down on this already (which means you might need to do two sets today), but how about this for a festive training session?

This 5,850-metre swim set (all 75s) may be the best workout idea yet. Carve out a good chunk of pool time and prepare to create a deficit for all turkey you ate. And while you’re at it, why not don one of these bad boys?

Here’s how it works: Each “day” is one 75, broken up in a different way. You’ll swim day 1. Then you’ll swim day 2, day 1. Then day 3, day 2, day 1. The idea is to keep adding on to the set and work your way back to number one. Choose a comfortable interval that will give you about 5–8 seconds rest every 75. (Note that some 75s, such as those with breaststroke will be slower than others.)

Sung (at least somewhat) to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a 75 free!
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one free-drill-free and a 75 free!
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, one hypoxic 3/5/3, one free-drill-free and a 75 free!

Print this out and bring it to the pool deck:
1. Freestyle
2. Freestyle-drill-freestyle
3. Hypoxic, breathe every 3/5/3
4. Backstroke/freestyle/backstroke
5. Freestyle
6. Drill-freestyle-drill
7. Hypoxic, breathe every 5/7/5
8. Breaststroke/freestyle/breaststroke
9. Freestyle
10. Breaststroke/backstroke/breaststroke
11. Hypoxic, breathe every 7/9/7
12. Pull

Thanks to our co-worker RJ’s former swim coach Glenn Moore, the head of Delaware Swim and Fitness Center Tri-Dawgs, for the inspiration!

FILED UNDER: Training TAGS: Christmas / Festive / holiday / Session / set / swim / Training