A Few Favorites

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Dan Harrigan
1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist- 200 Back
Former Coach, Penn State University

Dan counts the great Dick Jochums as his mentor.  Here are a few of Dan’s favorite sets:
10 x 100 free (yds)on 1:15 count strokes for each lap. Each 25 take one less stroke.
This will tend to make you kick more toward the end of each hundred.

10 x 200m back swim/kick by 100s on 2:45 (or an interval that gives you little time to rest, maybe 5 to 10 seconds.)

15 x 100 free on descending intervals (meters):

first five on 1:15

next five on 1:10

last five on 1:05

Kickin’ with Wiken #2

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Erik Wiken
Head Coach, Heartland Aquatics

This post is the second in a series of posts from Coach Wiken’s Senior/National Team Group.  Look for more to come soon.

No Board/in Streamline on back, 1 stroke max into wall
3 x through:
    4 x 100 @ 2:00   
       75Flutter/25 Dolphin, 50/50, 25/75, 0/100
    4 x 25 @ :45 Fly Swim
    ½ Way – 15M ↓H20 kick into sprint swim
    1 x 50 @ 1:00 Easy FR Swim

1650/36 minutes



Kickin’ with Wiken #1

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Erik Wiken
Head Coach, Heartland Aquatics

This post is the first in a series of posts from Coach Wiken’s Senior/National Team Group.  Look for more to come soon.

With Board or in Streamline (1 stroke max into wall)
4 x 100 @ 2:00 FR Strong Kick
4 x 25 @ :45 FR All Out Kick
3 x 100 @ 1:55 FR Strong Kick
4 x 25 @ :45 FR All Out Kick
2 x 100 @ 1:50 FR Strong Kick
4 x 25 @ :45 FR All Out Kick
1 x 100 @ 1:45 FR Strong Kick
4 x 25 @ :45 FR All Out Kick
1 x 100 @ — Easy Moderate FR Swim
1500/35 minutes

Flyin’ at Heartland

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Workout notes:
 -Only had 90 minutes on this particular day so things were a bit more condensed than normal. Was fortunate enough to have a couple of college guys back to train with my best 14 & under flyer. The goal was for her to do the set without breaking stroke and preparing for a great 200 fly without doing a TON of fly.
-The Short fins set was the speed work for the day, with the mindset of finishing a 100 fly really fast (fins were there to ensure holding stroke after the main set, aside from generating max speed). The underwaters were a hypoxic recovery and a mental challenge to use a whole body kick after the 100s on both rounds.
 – This was a good workout for the guys and an awesome challenge she rose up to on that day (not a typical daily workout, we were going into winter break, I believe there was no full day of school afterwards so she could recover fully). She channeled this memory about a month later into a PR in the 200 fly by about 5 seconds. 
Warm-up:
5:00FR Swim @ 1:00 Rest
8 x 25 @ :30 IM Order by 2s, fast in the deep end
(IMO by 2s: 1-2:Fly 3-4:BK …. Essentially Odds: EZ/FAST Evens: FAST/EZ)
2 x Wall Series (SEE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG POST)

Main Set: 

2x through…
1 x 250 @ 3:20
1 x 200 @ 2:40
1 x 150 @ 2:00
1 x 100 @ 1:20
1 x 50 @ 1:00
1st Rd: finish each swim with 25 fly (example: 250 = 225FR 25Fly…. 50 = 25FR 25Fly)
2nd Rd: finish each swim with 50 fly

1 x 50 @ 1:40 Easy Swim

Repeat all of that again.

+ 1:00 Rest to put on short fins..

2x
3 x 100 @ 1:40 50FR/50Fly
-Negative Split
4 x 25 @ :45 Underwater dolphin kick

Warm-down:
200FR 100IM Drill 
Wall Series: “Stolen” from Tom Beck at GOAL, modified to current form. Finish each warm-up with this mini set:
The following 7 steps are one time through, we finish each warm-up session twice through…
1. Streamline for distance* (goal; reach mid pool & beyond without propulsion)
2. From 1st red float back to start wall, submerge for underwater accelerator dolphin to wall, last few yards should be sprint. (swim back out to about 10 yards out)
3. FR race pace turn
4. 2 Reverse tucks from a horizontal & stationary position (working on quick knees & shoulders on open turn)
5. Fly or BR open race pace turn
6. Back race pace turn**
7. Accelerator at surface into choice race finish 
*The second round the streamline for distance is from the blocks. No kick, just gliding.
**The second round we substitute the BK turn on the 2nd round with a BK/BR crossover turn.

Burning Both Ends of the Candle

Posted on by rdwoodruff
First time I ran this, kids had never heard of the phrase before and didn’t understand why I would call this set that name. After 20 x 25s, they knew why…
 
1. Partner Up:
-You will need 1 Buoy & 1 Kickboard per tandem, both with center-mount snorkel (HIGHLY recommended)
2. 20 x 25 @ 1:00 (interval & # of repeats according to ability)
(want to make it longer?, suggest breaking @ 1/2 or 1/3s with a 50 easy on same interval)
One person does a 25 sprint scull (hands out in front of snorkel), head in line
 
The other person does a 25 sprint FR tombstone kick**, head in line
Rotate equipment after each 25
**Tombstone Kick: Stand board on end, grab a 1/2 way and stick bottom half in the water. Board stays vertical.  (We also do tombstone kick sets where the last repeat (usually 25s) we “bury it”, board is vertical and totally submerged.)

Two Grand Tempo

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Brent Nichols
I wanted to share a workout using the Temp Trainer.  Following Coach Ryan Woodruff’s idea on how to determine “sweet spot”, http://swimmingwizard.blogspot.com/2010/05/find-your-sweet-spot.html, I came up with this set to help me work on speed without losing control.
300 Warm up consisting of:
25 Fist swim
25 open hand
25 1 finger
25 open hand
25 2 finger
25 open hand
25 3 finger
25 open hand
100 easy swim for stroke count
All three sets using TT at 1.05:
Set #1 400
4 x 25 + 3 x 50 + 2 x 75 + 1 x 100 1.05
20 second rests
Recovery swim
100
Set #2 400
4 x 25 + 3 x 50 + 2 x 75 + 1 x 100@1.05
15 second rests
Recovery swim
100
Set #3 400
4 x 25 + 3 x 50 + 2 x 75 + 1 x 100@1.05
10 second rests
Recovery swim
100
Warm down 300 yards easy swim
2100 total yards

The Hurricane

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Ryan Woodruff
ryan.d.woodruff@gmail.com

“More days to come
New places to go
I’ve got to leave
It’s time for a show

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane”

-The Scorpions, “Rock You Like a Hurricane”

WARMUP Churn the waters– 20 MINUTES NON-STOP OF:

200 SMOOTH FREE
10 STREAMLINE BLASTOFFS OFF THE BOTTOM
100 KICK W/BOARD
100 SMOOTH NO FREE
10 STREAMLINE BLASTOFFS
50 KICK FAST W/ BOARD

MAIN SET – THE HURRICANE
The intensity builds and builds until you reach the “Eye-M” in the middle. The intensity hits strong again shortly thereafter.

Descend the 1st four 500s, Pull is optional on all 100s
500 FREE STRONG @ 5:40
4 X 100 EZ @ 1:15
500 FREE STRONG @ 5:40
3 X 100 EZ @ 1:15
500 FREE STRONG @ 5:40
2 X 100 EZ @ 1:15
500 FREE STRONG @ 5:40
1 X 100 EZ @ 1:15

800 REVERSE “Eye-M” 50 KICK/100 DRILL/50 SWIM

500 FREE STEADY B3 @ 5:40
4 X 100 F.P.A. @ 1:10
500 FREE STEADY B3 @ 5:40
3 X 100 F.P.A. @ 1:10
500 FREE STEADY B3 @ 5:40
2 X 100 F.P.A. @ 1:10
500 FREE STEADY B3 @ 5:40
1 X 100 F.P.A. @ 1:10

WARM DOWN SET
? X 25 @ :30 CHOICE, DESCEND CYCLE COUNT 1-4 AND REPEAT

The "N" Set

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Dani Caldwell
SUSA Stingrays

This was a great set for determining the “mental state” of my senior swimmers.  I also did a shorter, easier version with my age-groupers later in the day.  I did it as an evening practice for my seniors, which gave them extra motivation to push themselves!
 
Goal yardage (depending on the ability of the swimmers and duration of the workout):  6500 yards
 
Rules:
1.  You have 15 minutes do get in as many repeats as possible.  Count your repeats. (Coach records them)
2.  You MUST take the specified rest.
3.  You determine how much effort you put in.
4.  Once you reach your goal yardage, you warm down 300 yards and you are done.
Sets:
1.  15 minutes — straight swim
2.  15 minutes — n x 100 FR kick with fins and snorkel @5 seconds rest
3.  15 minutes — n x 200 FR pull (no buoy) @20 seconds rest
4.  15 minutes — n x 100 stroke (no FR, all the same stroke) @ 10 seconds rest
5.  15 minutes — n x 50 FR with snorkel (work on turns) @ 10 seconds rest
6.  15 minutes — n x 25 underwaters with fins @10 seconds rest
7.  15 minutes — n x 75 FR @5 seconds rest

A Dayton Christmas Part 2

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Gary Galbreath
Dayton Raiders

SCM

Pulling/Kicking
====================
3 x 300 on 4:30 Swim, IM k/d/s, scull/swim x25
8 x 100 on 1:30 uh2o turns
====================
4x
{1 x 75 on 1:20 1:25 Kick, 1st 25 fast
{1 x 75 on 1:25 1:30 Kick- last 50 fast
{1 x 75 on 1:30 Kick- entire 75 fast
{1 x 100 on 2:00 Kick for Time
====================
2x
{3 x 200 on 2:30 2:40 2:50 Paddles with hard kick
{3 x 150 on 2:00 2:10 2:20 pad/buoy desc 50’s
{3 x 100 on 1:15 1:20 1:25 Buoy only. Make
{2 x 50 on 1:00 Backstroke
====================
5 x 100 on 1:30 No Equipment.Choice Best Ave
1 x 500 on 8:00 Swim 12.5 uh2o off each wall
5 x 100 on 1:30 Equipment. Choice Best Ave
1 x 100 on 2:00 ez 1:00
7,500 Meters

A Dayton Christmas Part 1

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Gary Galbreath
Dayton Raiders

SCY
200 Swim, 200 kick, 200 Pull, 200 Swim @ 13:00                          13
15 x 100                                                                       
       5 @ 1:20/1:25
       5 @ 1:15/1:20
       5 @ 1:10/1:15
———1 Min———-                          2300
Main Set
3 x                                                                            
6 x 25 Fly @ 20/25 (200 Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Back @ 20/25 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Breast @ 25/30 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Free @ 20/25 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45                    2400/4700
——–1 Min——–
Main Set II
4 x                     Descend 1-4                                            
1 x 100 IM @ 1:25/1:30
1 x 100 IM @ 1:20/1:25
1 x 100 IM @ 1:15/1:20
1 x 100 IM @ 1;10/1:15
                                   1600/6300
——–1 min——–
Kick Set
20 x 50                                                                        
       Odd @ 50
       Even @ 45
                                   1000/7300
——–1 Min——
Pull Set
10 x 75 @ 55/1:00                                                              
                                   750/8050

The Myers Sprint Set

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Dustin Myers

1 x 50  @  1:00;  cruise kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel

2 x 25  @  0:30;  build to sprint kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel
4 x 25  @  0:40;  build to sprint – free
2 x 25  @  0:30;  build to sprint kick – secondary stroke
4 x 25  @  0:40;  build to sprint – secondary stroke
1:00 rest
1 x 50  @  1:00;  cruise kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel
2 x 25  @  0:40;  sprint kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel
4 x 25  @  0:50;  sprint – free
2 x 25  @  0:40;  sprint kick – secondary stroke
4 x 25  @  0:50;  sprint – secondary stroke
1:00 rest
1 x 50  @  1:30;  cruise kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel and parachute
2 x 25  @  0:50;  sprint kick – flutter w/ board and snorkel and parachute
4 x 25  @  1:00;  sprint – free w/ parachute
2 x 25  @  0:50;  sprint kick – secondary stroke w/ parachute
4 x 25  @  1:00;  sprint – secondary stroke w/ parachute
1:00 rest
2 x 25  @  1:30;  sprint – free w/ bucket
2 x 25  @  1:30;  sprint – secondary stroke w/ bucket
2 x 25  @  1:30;  sprint – free w/ bucket and fins (paddles optional)
2 x 25  @  1:30;  sprint – secondary stroke w/ bucket and fins (paddles optional)

Medley and Free Sets for Success

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Great mixed Medley/Fs sets that work well with all swimmers (times adjusted accordingly)
1600 IM as
50 Fs, 50 Fly
100 Fs, 100 Bk
150 Fs, 150 Brst
200 Fs, 200 IM
150 Fs, 150 Fly
100 Fs, 100 Bk
50 Fs, 50 Brst
Focus on good technique, especially towards end of set
20 x 100 Fs as
8 @ 1.20
6 @ 1.15
4 @ 1.10
2 @ 1.05
Work distance per stroke, turns & finishes
8 x 150 as (twice through)
# 1 – All Fs
# 2 – All Kick
# 3 – IM (Leave out Form stroke)
# 4 – All Form
20 x 50 Fs Jump Outs as
10 @ 50
6 @ 45
4 @ 40
Individual Pressure Swims;
Pick swimmer for ‘Pressure swim’ and give him/her 10/15 minutes to prepare. Leave poolside whilst others continue with session. Bring ‘competitior’ out and get all other swimmers out of pool to support him/her. Swimmers then has to race and be within 1% of best time. If they make the time, all swimmers swim down and leave early. If the swimmer fails, they ALL do 1000m Max for time. Great for teamwork/team building.

21-Cycle Swims

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Dani Caldwell
SUSA Stingrays, St. George, Utah


21-Cycle Swims
SCY
Short set we do with HS kids…
8 x 21 stroke cycles — stop when you reach 21 cycles, begin from that point on the next one
Rules:  you must continue stroking or streamlining off the wall — no side-glide or other forms of “cheating”
Some of our older boys were getting to 125 yards the other morning!  It was interesting how “into it” they got — they turned it into quite a competition.

A Halloween Set during Adaptation Week (for age groupers)

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Clare Labowitch
Head Coach Darwin Swimming Club
Northern Territory, Australia
5k Pre-Halloween Excursion to the Dark Side (10-15 sec RI throughout)
Warm Up
4 x 100 two headed monsters (a variation of top and tail, this has two swimmers stroking with a kicker hanging on to each of their feet)
8 x 50 ghost slider + stealth free (max uw s/l on side, keep upper body very still, lead with one arm other by side,smooth breakout into no splash free with high elbow recovery)
6 x 50 scare tactics (with fins – 25 uw dolphin 25 max sprint)
Pre-Set
600 vampire chase 2 swimmers begin 20m in front of three other swimmers with fins who work as a pursuit team to catch them – once caught roles are rotated. The third swimmer in the line is the catcher which forces the swimmers to work together)
6 x 50 scramble home relay(swimmers s/l under floating mat then swim to and climb over, best they can, a fitness ball to get to the end).
Main
2[6 x 200 medley mashups (change around medley order/distances and even leave out a stroke for each repeat)
    4 x 50 carrying the weight (dolphin kick on back holding up medicine ball)
Cool down
4 x 50 zombie crawl (25 on back swimming feet forwards; 25 swim freestyle backwards)

Aerobic Speed

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Gary Galbreath
Dayton Raiders

We did this set during what I called Aerobic speed week. This was done Short Course Meters.

We gave all swimmers aggressive times to hold.  All said it was the hardest set of the summer.
400/350 Pull @ 5:15
4 x 50 Drill @ 50
——-30——–
1 x 100 Dive Fast @ 2:00
400/350 Pull @ 5:15
4 x 50 Drill @ 50
——-30——–
2 x 100 Dive Fast @ 2:00
400/350 Pull @ 5:15
4 x 50 Drill @ 50
——-30——–
3 x 100 Dive Fast @ 2:00
400/350 Pull @ 5:15
4 x 50 Drill @ 50
——-30——–
4 x 100 Dive Fast @ 2:00
500 Warm-Down (50 Kick-50 Swim)

I.M. a Hokie

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Braden Holloway
Associate Head Coach, Virginia Tech

Aerobic Base IM set for 400 IMers.
Done in SC Yards

350 IM @ 4:45 (50/125/125/50)
3 x 100 FR @ 1:15
400 IM @ 5:30 (75/125/125/75)
400 FR @ 5:00
450 IM @ 6:15 (100/125/125/100)
5 x 100 @ 1:10
500 IM @ 6:45 (100/150/150/100)
600 FR @ 7:00
550 IM @ 7:30 (125/150/150/125)
7 x 100 FR @ 1:05 PULL
600 IM @ 8:15 (125/175/175/125)
800 FR @ 9:00 PULL
Hold entire set 5-6 beats below max heart rate
Total: 6150 yards

The Dayton Raider Mountain

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Gary Galbreath
Dayton Raiders Swim Club

Here’s a set we did Saturday morning. Just as a reminder it’s base building time! We did it SC meters. Everyone was on the same cycle. The Kick part was the chance to catch up if the were struggling with the Times. It’s just a good Aerobic set. Total 8800 meters

25 Kick@ 30
4 x 50 @ 45 Descend 1-4
            Free
75 Kick@ 1:30
4 x 100 @ 1:30 Descend 1-4
            25 Stroke/50 Free/25 Stroke
125 Kick @ 2:30
4 x 150 @ 2:05 Descend 1-4
            Free
175 Kick@ 3:30
4 x 200 @ 3:00 Descend 1-4
            BackStroke
225 Kick @ 4:30
4 x 250 @ 3:15 Descend 1-4
            Free
275 kick@ 5:30
4 x 300 @ 4:30 Descend 1-4
            100 IM/100No Free/100 Free
325 Kick @ 6:30
4 x 350 @ 4:25 Descend 1-4
            Free
375 Kick@ 7:30
4 x 400 IM @ 6:30
            #1 4 x 100 IM
            #2 100IM/200 IM/100IM
            #3 2 x 200 IM
            #4 Reverse 400 IM
                        8800 meters

The Dirty Thirty

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Lauren Harrington
Loyola University

Warmup
300 free
200 IM drill/swim
100 pull
12×25 12 1/2 yards fast, getting the heart rate up
4x50s from mid-pool (stroke)
4x50s from mid-pool (free)


Main Set – “The Dirty Thirty”
30x100s

  • 10x100s on 1:30/1:35 (may adjust interval for swimmers, but these are the two we used for the women’s team)
  • 10x100s on 1:20/1:25
  • 10x100s on 1:10/1:15

The point of the set is to hold the same pace throughout…so you start out on 1:30/1:35 going as fast as you would to make a 1:10/1:15 pace. Obviously, you get a lot more rest at the beginning, but that’s the point. It’s a test of endurance, and it’s always fun to see where the swimmers are at the beginning of the season doing this set vs. the end of the season. It’s a good benchmark for where they’re at.

EASY 100 Stretch it out

6x100s 50 catch-up drill/50 swim freestyle to regain stroke and make sure swimmers are not just spinning their wheels after a set like that…@ 1:30

200 Warm Down

My Favorite Practice

Posted on by rdwoodruff

Ryan Woodruff

This set was one of my favorites from my time training for open water races.
SCY
10 x 500 @ 6:00 Slight descend #1-5, Hold #6-10 strong & steady
200 ez backstroke
10 x 300 @ 3:40 Hold 2 sec per 100 faster than on the 500s
200 ez backstroke
10 x 100 @ 1:20 Fastest possible average, shoot for 4 seconds faster per 100 than pace on the 300s.
200 ez backstroke

9600 yards

Set #2 From Down Under

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Clare Labowitch, Darwin Swimming Club
Northern Territory, Australia

We are in an endurance phase at the moment the what follows is the second of two Wednesday morning aerobic endurance sets which the swimmers handled particularly well.

Warm Up
4 x100 as 50 reverse IM order, 50 free on 1.35
4 250 as 200 free D1-4 to 85% + 50 form 20 sec RI
8 x 50 choice on 65 as 35 drill, 15 race finish
Kick Swim Drill
4 x 200 as 100 6 kick switch with one stroke to change + 100 slow arms fast kick on 3.20
Main – A1-A2
8 x 200 free as
 #1          200PB +35
#2-3       200PB +30
#4-5       200PB +25
#6-7       200PB +20
#8           take 2-3 secs off last swim
Fins
4 [ 4 x 50 as
Round 1- form on 50
Round 2- 25 form, 25 free on 45
Round 3- free on 40
Round 4 –choice on 35 – (one swimmer chose to do this round in fly)

200 easy backstroke and out

A Set from Down Under

Posted on by rdwoodruff
Clare Labowitch, Darwin Swimming Club
Northern Territory, Australia
I am an unashamed magpie when it comes to collecting swim sets and often mix and match different components. My squad is an age group one.
We are in an endurance phase at the moment the what follows is the first of two Wednesday morning aerobic endurance sets which the swimmers handled particularly well.
Warm Up 10 sec RI
400 free; 300 Claytons IM (25 fly 50 free, 25 back 50 free etc); 200 backstroke; 4 x 50 main stroke – stroke count D1-4 on 60
Main – Quality Endurance
2 x [ 4 x 200 free on 2:45 + 10 x 50 form on short rest cycle] as
                200 free + 1 x 50 form
                200 free + 2 x 50 form
                200 free + 3 x 50 form
                200 free + 4 x 50 form 
What I appreciated about the main was that the swimmers set their own cycle for the 50s and all of them challenged themselves
Fins
20 x 50 as 1-3 technique 4 pace

Triathlete/Masters Practice #4

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Ryan Woodruff

LCM
Warmup-500 smooth swim

100 pull @ 1:30/1:45/2:00
10 x 50 kick with fins @ 1:00/1:10/1:20
200 swim free @ 3:00/3:30/4:00
8 x 50 stroke (no free) @ 1:00/1:15/1:30
300 pull @ 4:30/5:15/6:00
6 x 50 kick @ 1:00/1:15/1:30
400 swim free @ 6:00/7:00/8:00
4 x 50 stroke (no free) @ 1:00/1:15/1:30
500 pull @ 7:30/9:00/10:00
2 x 50 FAST! @ 1:30

300 Warm down

3800m Total

Masters Practice #3

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Ryan Woodruff

SCY
This practice is meant to be adapted for three different ability levels.  The first interval or distance is meant to be for the advanced swimmer, the second for intermediate, etc.  (i.e. 500/400/300 @ 8:00/9:00/8:30 means advanced swimmers do 500 yards @ 8:00 and so on).

Warmup
500/400/300 smooth free swim

3 x 300 Kick/Drill/Swim by 100 @ 5:15/6:00/6:45

Pull Set
100 EZ @ 1:30/1:45/2:00
200  (100 EZ/100 Moderate) @ 3:00/3:30/4:00
300 (100 EZ/100 Moderate/100 Fast) @ 4:30/5:15/6:00
200  (100 EZ/100 Moderate) @ 3:00/3:30/4:00
100 EZ @ 1:30/1:45/2:00

3 x 300 IM or Stroke (50 drill/25 fast) @ 5:15/5:45/6:15

Warm Down
6 x 100 freestyle, Descend cycle count per 25 each 100 @ 1:40/1:55/2:15

Total yardage: 3800

Beat Your Best With Fins

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Ryan Woodruff

LCM – We performed this set 3x through. The goal for each swim with fins & paddles is to beat your lifetime best 100m time. This set works for any stroke, and it may work best for some butterflyers to do it without paddles.

100 with fins & paddles + 100 ez swim @ 3:00
100 with fins & paddles + 200 ez swim @ 4:30
100 with fins & paddles + 300 ez swim @ 6:00