Toughest Sets Ever

Browsing around the world wide interweb I came across this article from Swimming World magazine on tough workouts.

I especially like the examples of Dick Shoulberg's sets:

Among the many mind-boggling feats of endurance turned in by Shoulberg's swimmers was a 16,000 IM for time in October 1985 by Wharton (15 at the time), Hansen, Radke and Kathy Hettche. In the following weeks, they did a 13,000, 10,000, 7,000, 4,000 and 1,000 IM. The following May, Wharton broke the world record in the 400 IM, and Radke and Hansen also made the 1988 Olympic team.

"I knew Wharton was ready to go when he did that 16,000," said Shoulberg. "We do some bizarre things around here."

Another shocker was a long course 15,000 free for time that Sue Heon did at Germantown at the age of 22, holding 1:10s. She went on to make the 1984 Olympic team in the 400IM.

"When you do something like that, then when you get up on the block and look across the pool, you know your competitors probably haven't out-trained you," said Shoulberg.

A couple of Christmases ago I received this email from one of my former swimmers:

Thirty years ago this Christmas, you had me swim 20 x 400s freestyle in an old Victorian pool in the tough end of Glasgow, and I thought that enough time has passed. We should commemorate the moment. For God’s sake, I was a bloody sprinter! But I made it through every last one…and I think that I didn’t swim anything slower than 4:45. That was one of the greatest achievements of my life. There have been many times since then that I have drawn on that set. One more twenty-five, one more 400.

Thank You,
Merry Christmas.


So, doing the hard yards has a longer effect than just in the muscles.

There has been no posting by you guys but if you want to send me your examples of tough sets I'll compile them and put them up.