Need to train effectively without huge distances

This is most likely a topic for training but I need some general advice also. I will be 60 at the nationals and swim both BF and FS. I go a 27.66 in the 50 BF, and a 25.29 in the 50 FS. For the 100's it is a 1:03 in the BF and :56 in the FS. I lift 3x/wk and swim 4x/wk. For the most part I train alone. I find if I go much more than 2600 yds in a workout I am close to killing my shoulders. I also should note that even in practice when working on 50's if I go increments faster than 1:15 I can only do about 6 FS. If I am working on BF I need to do the increments at least around 1:30 and then I can only do around 4 of those. If I swim a 100 BF I am about done for the day! My times have been coming down every year but I think if I could get more out of practice I would see much more improvement. A normal workout for me is: 400 warm-up 4X 100 stoke on the 2:30 5 x 100 broken with 10 sec rest on 1st 25 and 1st 50 on 4min 8 x50 stroke on 1:30 400 kick (3) 4x25 on 45sec 200 cool down I have followed a lot of the threads and looked at workouts but am searching for something I can do without breaking down--another possibility is that i am just lazy--not sure how to fix that!
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  • That's wayyy too much energy system talk. The reason short distances work is because they allow you to practice technique at high speed and build specific strength without accumulating fatigue. It's very simple, but some people prefer to talk about energy systems because it makes them seem smarter than they are. Jazz, You're turning into the Andy Rooney of the swim forum. I do agree with most of what you say, but the science has shown some counter-intuitive results: most notably that intense short anaerobic work improves the aerobic system more than just aerobic work. I think that is the result of a fair number of researchers, among them Tabata, my hero. Rich
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  • That's wayyy too much energy system talk. The reason short distances work is because they allow you to practice technique at high speed and build specific strength without accumulating fatigue. It's very simple, but some people prefer to talk about energy systems because it makes them seem smarter than they are. Jazz, You're turning into the Andy Rooney of the swim forum. I do agree with most of what you say, but the science has shown some counter-intuitive results: most notably that intense short anaerobic work improves the aerobic system more than just aerobic work. I think that is the result of a fair number of researchers, among them Tabata, my hero. Rich
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