A swimmer using a kickboard to refine freestyle stroke technique, emphasizing breath timing and stroke coordination

Breath Control & Stroke Efficiency: A Fins-Based Swim Workout

Master Your Swim: Fins-Enhanced Training for Triathletes & Competitive Swimmers

Enhancing Triathlon Swim Performance with Fins

This triathlon swim workout is structured to improve breath control, stroke efficiency, and overall endurance in the water. The warmup sets the foundation with a 200-yard Individual Medley (IM) that alternates between swimming and kicking to activate different muscle groups. The pre-set introduces sprint intervals in the IM order, helping swimmers transition smoothly between strokes while maintaining speed and efficiency.

Mastering Stroke and Breath Control for Race Day

The drill sets focus on breath control and stroke efficiency, key factors for triathlon success. A progressive breathing drill challenges swimmers to increase their stroke count per breath, reinforcing lung capacity and controlled exhalation. The stroke control set encourages swimmers to minimize stroke count per lap, enhancing efficiency and power. By alternating between fins and no fins, athletes refine their technique while maintaining endurance, preparing for open-water conditions where efficiency and control are critical.

swimmer performing the backstroke in a pool, showcasing proper technique with a streamlined body position, strong arm pull, and efficient kick

Mastering Backstroke & Streamline: The Ultimate Swim Training Plan

Building Swim Strength & Endurance: Training for All Levels

Developing Strength & Technique in Swim Training

This structured swim workout refines essential techniques for both beginner and intermediate swimmers. The Learn to Swim session focuses on breath control, propulsion, and stroke breakdown drills to ensure strong fundamentals. Meanwhile, the Intermediate Swim workout enhances backstroke technique, speed, and endurance with IM-based kicking, streamline-focused exercises, and powerful sprinting drills.

Mastering Backstroke & Streamline Efficiency

With a blend of in-water and dryland drills, these workouts reinforce proper head positioning, strong dolphin kicks, and coordinated stroke mechanics. Swimmers will improve their balance, breath timing, and overall water control through progressive skill-building sets.

triathlete performing a freestyle swim in open water, showcasing streamlined form, strong arm pull, and efficient breathing technique, emphasizing endurance and speed for race preparation.

3 Essential Swim Workouts: Triathlon Training, Intermediate Drills, and Learn-to-Swim

Building Strength and Speed in the Water

This triathlon swim workout is designed to push athletes to their limits, combining technique, endurance, and power. The session starts with a structured warm-up featuring IM drills, sidekick work, and fingertip drills to reinforce proper stroke mechanics. Next, a short diving drill prepares athletes for competitive race starts, helping to develop confidence in entering the water efficiently.

Optimizing Stroke Mechanics and Race Simulation

Throughout the drill sets, swimmers practice balance and control through Heel Tag, Seahorse, and Lacrosse Ball drills, which refine body positioning and streamline movement. The pre-set introduces a high-intensity lane relay with treading water and brick holds, simulating open-water resistance. The main set ramps up intensity with sprint-focused freestyle reps, training the body for race-paced endurance. The session concludes with a 100-yard dolphin dive cooldown, reinforcing efficient starts and streamlined gliding.

Refining Swim Technique: From Fundamentals to Performance

This dual swim workout caters to both beginners and intermediate swimmers, ensuring strong fundamental development and high-performance training. The Learn to Swim session introduces new swimmers to essential techniques, such as breath control, dolphin kicks, and underwater movement, helping them feel more comfortable in the water. Meanwhile, the Intermediate Swim session challenges experienced swimmers with advanced drills, including fast lane relays, treading water with bricks, and butterfly sprint sets to enhance endurance and race speed.

Building Strength, Confidence, and Speed in the Pool

For beginners, the workout reinforces buoyancy, kicking, and breath control while gradually introducing dolphin diving and streamlined movement. For intermediate swimmers, the focus shifts to powerful sprinting, stroke mechanics, and race-prep intensity. This structured progression ensures all swimmers build confidence, increase efficiency, and optimize their speed, endurance, and technique.

A series of five realistic underwater swimming images showcasing different beginner swim drills swimmer performing a standing kick drill learn to swim Binghamton University

Essential Swim Drills for Beginners: Breath Control, Floating & Streamlining

The Learn to Swim workout focuses on foundational swimming techniques designed to build water confidence, breath control, and efficient movement in the pool. The session begins with a structured warm-up featuring drills like Stand & Kick, Burpee Bubbles, and Back Floating with a noodle, ensuring students develop body positioning awareness. The pre-set introduces intensity with interval-based Sit & Kick and Wall Kick exercises, training participants to manage effort and recovery systematically. This structured approach ensures swimmers build endurance while reinforcing proper kicking technique and breath control.

Moving into the drill set, swimmers practice essential skills like the Standing Streamline, Mushroom Top Flip, and Floating Streamline to enhance hydrodynamics and relaxation in the water. Sculling and floating drills train the hands and body to interact effectively with water resistance, promoting balance and efficiency. By the end of the workout, students gain a deeper understanding of buoyancy, propulsion, and controlled breathing—fundamental skills needed to advance to more complex swimming techniques confidently.