What is the IM? (Individual Medley)

If you’re a more experienced swimmer and you already know all about the Individual Medley, keep reading because we’ll be sharing tips on how you can get the most out of your IM training, including an IMX-themed workout!

Watch on YouTube:

IM Order vs Medley Relay Order

If you’re racing IM by yourself, you will swim the strokes in the following order:

• Butterfly
• Backstroke
• Breaststroke
• Freestyle

In relays, the order is different:

• Backstroke
• Breaststroke
• Butterfly
• Freestyle

Why Should You Train IM?

• Improve Your Feel of the Water: Each stroke works your muscles differently and engages different energy systems. Even if you only race freestyle, swimming IM will make you a faster swimmer overall.
• Burns More Calories: Engaging your muscles in new ways and recruiting all the energy systems will help you burn extra calories during each workout!
• Prevent Injury: IM breaks up repetitive movements, reducing your risk for overuse injuries in your shoulders and other areas of your body.
• More Fun/Mix It Up: Swimming the same stroke can get boring. IM keeps your workouts interesting and adds variety.

Different Types of “IM” Training

You can incorporate IM into your workouts in a few different ways. These five variations are most common. For more terminology & FAQ, visit our Support Site.

“IM Order:” This means you complete the set by swimming one rep of each stroke. For example, if your set is 4×50 IM order, you would swim:

• 50 Butterfly
• 50 Backstroke
• 50 Breaststroke
• 50 Freestyle

“FRIM:” This stands for “Freestyle IM,” meaning you will swim freestyle in place of butterfly. This variation allows you to start the backstroke and breaststroke fresh, and makes your IM sets more aerobic. A 100 FRIM would look like:

• 25 Freestyle
• 25 Backstroke
• 25 Breaststroke
• 25 Freestyle

“Transition IM:” Transition IM allows you to reduce your training volume and work on your turns by switching strokes. For example, a set of 3 x 50s Transition IM would look like:

• 1 st 50: 25 Butterfly, 25 Backstroke
• 2 nd 50: 25 Backstroke, 25 Breaststroke
• 3 rd 50: 25 Breaststroke, 25 Freestyle

“Twitch” or “IM/FREE” or “Major Stroke/Free:” Here, you’ll alternate IM order with Freestyle. If you’re doing a 200 Twitch, your swim would look like this:

• 25 Butterfly, 25 Freestyle
• 25 Backstroke, 25 Freestyle
• 25 Breaststroke, 25 Freestyle
• 25 Freestyle, 25 Freestyle

IM Order x2 or x3: In this setup, you’ll do multiple reps of each stroke, in IM order. You can add in variation in speed or effort for each rep. If your set is 8x25s IM Order x2 (odds easy/evens fast), you would do the following:

• 2×25 Butterfly 1 easy/1 fast
• 2×25 Backstroke 1 easy/1 fast
• 2×25 Breaststroke 1 easy/1 fast
• 2×25 Freestyle 1 easy/1 fast

Want to work on your IM? Try out these Training Plans in the MySwimPro app!

• Get Fit IM Plan: Great for beginners!
• IMX Pro Challenge Plan: If you’ve ever wanted to swim a 400IM, this plan is for you!

IMX Workout

Challenge yourself with this IM swim workout! Complete one round of the Main Set for a 2,600-yard workout, or complete 2 rounds for a 3,600 yard workout.

Warmup

• 1 x 300 Freestyle
• 6 x 50s Kick/Swim
• 6 x 50s Transition IM

Pre Set (1x)

• 1 x 200 IM Twitch
• 3 x 100s FRIM

Main Set (1 or 2x)

• 6 x 100s FRIM
• 1 x 200 IM
• 8 x 25s IM Order x2 (1 easy, 1 fast)

Cool Down

4 x 50s IM Order

2,600 yards or meters – 60 Minutes

3,600 yards or meters – 80 Minutes

We hope you’re inspired to incorporate more IM into your swim training! If you’re looking for more Swim Workouts, Technique Videos and tracking tools, download the MySwimPro app on your iPhone or Android. Use code SWIM35 to save $35 on your first year of training >