I've been swimming for Masters for 34 yrs (age 58 on 1/27/13) and like to swim 6 days/week, 4000 to 6000 yds/day, across most of the year, taking maybe 2 weeks off per year. Obviously, I tend to get tired over time. The key issue seems to be how tired is too tired??? I've read Maglischo's books ("Swimming Fast", "Swimming Faster") and he uses a % effort formulation based on HR and/or best time in an event. If you're doing repeats at say 30-50% slower than your best race time, is there value in that from the long term development perspective??? When I rest and taper for a meet or race, I seem to recover pretty well and I'm much closer to the national 55-59 records than I was in the 25-29 AG, so it seems like I must be doing something right, but wondered what long-time Masters swimmers thoughts are. Also, FWIW, I do most of my training on my own, but just race whoever happens to be in the pool.
What are your target races?
If you're enjoying the training, your body is holding up well and you're happy with your racing, keep it up.
I'm mainly a distance freestyler but like also to swim all 5 of the 200s and the 400 IM at your typical 2.5 day meet, so that I get good workout at the meet. So far, the body is holding up fine, and I've been doing a lot of kicking to avoid straining the shoulders.
What are your target races?
If you're enjoying the training, your body is holding up well and you're happy with your racing, keep it up.
I'm mainly a distance freestyler but like also to swim all 5 of the 200s and the 400 IM at your typical 2.5 day meet, so that I get good workout at the meet. So far, the body is holding up fine, and I've been doing a lot of kicking to avoid straining the shoulders.
