Swim workouts don’t have an estimated TSS in the plans - is this because it can’t be calculated / estimated reliably, or because it’s not believed to have any impact yet on your Bike/Run combined stress so not relevant?
Thx
Swim TSS can be calculated if you are aware of your 60min TT pace
1 Like
60min TT pace = Distance swam in TT / 60
IF = (distance swam / decimal time of session in min)/ decimal 60min TT pace in mins
sTSS = (decimal time of session in mins) /60) x (IF x IF x IF ) x 100
if my geeky memory serves me correct 
1 Like
I should have been clearer. I’m ok calculating a TSS (actually using TrainingPeaks for this) I was more asking why there was no estimated value, and whether this was a deliberate decision because it’s not considered valid stress.
3 Likes
This Slowtwitch thread has some good discussion on Swim TSS. I still haven’t got around to trying to track it either.
1 Like
Just going to volunteer my opinion: I don’t care to calculate swim TSS manually (especially after a brick workout), so it would be nice if that was estimated and included by default in the triathlon training programs. If the user were able to include their swim “threshold” pace in their profile or elsewhere (measured in time/100m, /100yd, etc), then when they put in the distance and time, and mark complete on a workout, the TSS would get added to their weekly totals. That would be nice!
10 Likes
Curious, no wrong answers: what does TT stand for and what constitutes a “threshold” swim pace? Avg. pace across X number of individual 100m/100yd efforts? Or avg pace per 100 (for example) in a sustained 1000m or yd effort?
TT - time trial. Continual distance as hard as you can cover it.
Threshold (or Critical Swim Speed, CSS) is similar to FTP, the pace you can hold for an hour continual, which you can estimate with a CSS test (easy to google)
Okay, thanks. I’m mentally trying to back into it. Disclaimer: former collegiate swimmer, long-lapsed triathlete, have been out of the game long enough that I’ve never heard of CSS or thresholds for swimming. Always just use my per 100 pace that I can sustain for a set of 6 to 8 100s. So. Much. Data. Available. Now.
Also: my masters’ groups usually use a timed 500yd/m pool effort as a gauge of “where they’re at” for swimming fitness. Doing 60 minutes at “time trial” a.k.a max effort would be asking someone to sprint for an hour (sprint a marathon) with no pacing, right?
2 Likes
Basically while youve been out of the game, cycling has learned from swimming how to do structured training, (All the warmups and interval sessions in TR) and then tried to play back what it learned (FTP, TSS) on to swimming - and it hasn’t really worked, to be honest!
1 Like
Yeahhhh…that’s why I’m a little curious. Swimming metrics are so tough, too many variables and (my opinion only) a heckuva lot of “never gonna understand the why and how.” You can train up (also only my humble opinion) 95% of it, but there’s at least 5% of swimming ability that is simply untrainable and comes from, like, nowhere. I think there’s a point where stuff gets esoteric and a little…well…yogic-mystic in terms of swimming training and natural abilities. We should ask Amber what she thinks ;D
2 Likes
Hey TrainerRoad, I still really want this feature, I think others would too. Why has nothing been done here? Seems like the feature would not be a big lift for engineers.
FEATURE REQUEST: Estimate + add TSS for swim workouts automatically
If anyone can tag a PM or someone better connected that would be appreciated
Cheers,
DW
5 Likes
Not sure how active this thread is, but came across the same issue with TR not offering a way to estimate swim TSS for us. I did make this quick excel sheet if it is helpful for people to calculate sTSS and plug it in manually. It won’t let me upload here but can share if wanted
I’d like this spreadsheet if you’ve still got it and are willing to share.
I’d like to bring this topic back up again. Started swimming again and like to incorporate TSS estimates automatically. Also, how does red light green light take this into account if no TSS is available?
1 Like
What do you think an sTSS describes?
In cycling, how much aerobic stimulus you put in speaks to the performance gains and physiological adaptations you get out.
In swimming, it doesn’t. That’s the simplest way to put it.
Measure of stimulus in swimming by pace as is done with sTSS is a fundamentally flawed concept - we go faster with better technique, primarily. Technique often driven by drills and the use of swim toys, often meaning you are adapting better whilst going slower.
The worst way to train swimming is to approach swimming like cycling or running, measuring it like those sports encourages you to train like those sports.
In short, I think this is a pretty bad idea 
. I’ve recorded distance and time in the pool but that has the same flaw, I’d recommend looking at the consistency and frequency of your swims, to get a view on how much stimulus you’re getting.
1 Like