Started swimming again this year in an effort to get in better shape. Haven't done it since college (I'm 43), and that was just for exercise. Did it as a kid, now my kids also swim. At any rate, I'm just doing laps right now. Usually 6 sets of 500, occasionally only 5 and occasionally 7 or 8. ~5 days a week when life doesn't get in the way (so about 15,000 yards per week). About 25% ***, 25% back, and 50% free. I have occasionally thrown some fly in there, but I just can't do it without it fatiguing me to the point where the remainder of the set is very suboptimal.
At any rate, I am wondering at what point I should start looking to transition to doing workouts, rather than just laps. There is no Masters program that will work for me, so I'd just be following the posted workouts from the forums. Should I just jump right in? Should I start from "week 1," or just hit it right in the middle? Also, should I just be looking mostly at the general workouts, of mixing it up with the IM workouts to get more strokes, or start with general and slowly work my way towards the IM stuff?
Anything y'all need to know to help guide me the right way?
There is no question you are more than ready for interval workouts. Pick some from the forum or blog posts that appeal. I think you'll see the benefits quickly.
If you feel uncomfortable with a full interval workout, transition from your current workouts by adding shorter and faster sets at your own pace like 5-10x50 or 5x100 and eliminating some of the sets you are currently swimming.
You'll need a pace clock or watch. Pick swim intervals that you know you can make to start with or swim the reps starting out on a rest interval until you figure out what swim interval you can make an ratchet down. Add more intervals, stroke work, and drill as you progress.
Enjoy.
There is no question you are more than ready for interval workouts. Pick some from the forum or blog posts that appeal. I think you'll see the benefits quickly.
If you feel uncomfortable with a full interval workout, transition from your current workouts by adding shorter and faster sets at your own pace like 5-10x50 or 5x100 and eliminating some of the sets you are currently swimming.
You'll need a pace clock or watch. Pick swim intervals that you know you can make to start with or swim the reps starting out on a rest interval until you figure out what swim interval you can make an ratchet down. Add more intervals, stroke work, and drill as you progress.
Enjoy.
