Interval Pace Meaning in Swimming

Interval pace is the specific speed a swimmer must maintain during a training set. This term refers to the time allowed for both the swim and the rest. If the interval is one minute, the swimmer must finish and rest before the clock resets. Maintaining a consistent pace helps the body build the stamina needed for long races. A swimmer tries to touch the wall in forty seconds on a fifty-second interval. This leaves the athlete with ten seconds of rest before the next repetition starts. Coaches use these times to push athletes toward their specific competitive goal finish times. Training at the correct interval pace ensures the swimmer is ready for meet conditions.