Session Frequency vs Session Volume.

.... Maybe it depends upon what you are training for? .... DING! You are a winner! It is more about what you are training for than anything else. Since you seem to love it, and don't want to be in the water over an hour, you're doing just fine! I swim 6 days a week, and around 15,000 yards a week. I have to fit it in around teaching lessons and coaching.

That's exactly what I average; six days per week averaging 2,500/ day. I love being in the pool daily, so I would rather go for more days with less yardage each day. In addition, I find that my body tolerates this recipe better than loading up the yardage in less days. Do what makes you happy! :bliss:

Do not force yourself to swim longer if you don't like it!!!!!! Some swimmers like the peace & quiet of long swim times. Make it fun & worthwhile for YOU.

I think there are three excellent replies already. I'd add that swimming is the most individual of sports and Masters swimming is even more so. It's all what makes each person happy & that includes their goals, how much they want to swim, etc. No need to force anything. Right now I swim 4-5 days/week at about 3,000 yards a day. I took 33 years off & after five months of practice managed to set a state record in one event and in another swam the 4th fastest time in the US so far this year. ElaineK says do what makes you happy and this has made me really happy. I'll likely add a 6th day per week and start doing some drylands. Eventually. :)

Right now I swim 4-5 days/week at about 3,000 yards a day. I took 33 years off & after five months of practice managed to set a state record in one event and in another swam the 4th fastest time in the US so far this year. ElaineK says do what makes you happy and this has made me really happy. I'll likely add a 6th day per week and start doing some drylands. Eventually. :) :applaud: I'm happy FOR you! I love reading inspiring stories here on the forums. :agree: Hey, Skuj, it won't all be great OR lousy. Some days, you're the dog; and, other days, you're the hydrant. I have had some days where I'm excited to get to the pool, and then I get in, and nothing feels right. I struggle with my technique, I struggle with my intervals, and I feel like crap. On other days, I can hardly get myself out of bed; but, once I get in the pool and warm up, I feel great! I have given up trying to make sense of it other than I'm 57, and my body just doesn't respond to physical demands like it used to when I was younger. Good sleep (which is hard to get these days) plays a huge factor, as does my various physical issues. I never know what's going to happen. Last Saturday, I swam my best time in two years in the 200 fly and 200 breaststroke. I came really close in the 50 breaststroke, and I swam faster than I thought I would in all four of my races and the relay. I arrived at the meet on Sunday ready to duplicate Saturday's success. I swam the exact same warm-up as Saturday; however, my 200 IM felt like HELL. I almost scratched the remainder of my races. My husband was with me, though, and I didn't want to disappoint him, especially after our 1-hr drive to the pool each way. I also didn't want to disappoint myself by quitting; but, Saturday really took it out of me. Immediately following the 200 IM, I swam the 50 backstroke, an off event I hadn't raced in two years. I thought, what the heck, I will swim this race and then see how I feel. I ended up only five one-hundredths of a second off my 2017 time at that meet, and I hadn't trained that race at all! After that, I was in a much better mood, and I even volunteered for a relay at the end of the day. The moral of the story: Take it one day at a time, and don't let any one day in the pool define you as a Masters swimmer or a person! Keep an eye on the long-range goal. ;)

Last night I hated swimming. The thought of a pool made me ill. This morning the thought of a pool made me happy. Tomorrow the thought of a pool will have me climbing the walls. I will swim on Monday. "3 to 6 sessions per week" is an important new statement in My Swimming directive.

Indeed, thanks so much ElaineK. I got a little over-ambitious with so many swimdays in a row. I'm learning (slowly!)

Exactly! And isn't it wonderful? By that I mean when I was swimming HS/College there was so much pressure to do it all well, everyday, all the time. And now that I'm a wee bit older (53) I don't know what's going to happen but now that I have learned at least a little, I've decided to make this good news. I may have a fantastic pool day, maybe not. But how delightful it is to be alive and have the chance to find out. And those days where something fun (or miraculous) to me happens...well, they seem to completely make up for those off days. I guess it is a matter now that there are a lot of things I want to happen but it no longer matters so much if they do happen. Congratulations! Thank you for reporting on not only the successes but also how you felt & why. And also for the reminder about day-at-a-time and yet also focusing on the long range picture. I think I need to remind myself about this most days. Thanks, Z! Hey, that's what these forums are all about. I'm glad what I write has meaning to somebody out there! :agree: For me, you guys on the forums ARE my team. I'm in a situation where I only get to see my teammates at meets, because we are spread all over Georgia. The closest team to me is located too far for a daily round-trip commute, and they train in the evenings. I like to train in the morning, and I have access to our private indoor community pool located just one mile away. I love that pool; it's my home away from home. I am stuck training solo, however, due to being the only competitive swimmer in my community. I envy your Palmetto Masters family! Good on ya for appreciating them as much as I'm sure they appreciate you!

Last night I hated swimming. The thought of a pool made me ill. This morning the thought of a pool made me happy. Tomorrow the thought of a pool will have me climbing the walls. I will swim on Monday. "3 to 6 sessions per week" is an important new statement in My Swimming directive. Did you write this or did I think this and just forget to write it? :) It's so true. Some days the idea of doing anything other than a short warmup makes me cringe. I usually feel better when I do go and swim but there are a few times I don't seem to. I'm still getting used to all this particular kind of activity so I know some of it is just adjustment but most of it is my mind. What is left of it that is. :blush: I like. your range of days for a statement/goal. Seems wise and kind to yourself. And keep going.

...I never know what's going to happen. Exactly! And isn't it wonderful? By that I mean when I was swimming HS/College there was so much pressure to do it all well, everyday, all the time. And now that I'm a wee bit older (53) I don't know what's going to happen but now that I have learned at least a little, I've decided to make this good news. I may have a fantastic pool day, maybe not. But how delightful it is to be alive and have the chance to find out. And those days where something fun (or miraculous) to me happens...well, they seem to completely make up for those off days. I guess it is a matter now that there are a lot of things I want to happen but it no longer matters so much if they do happen. Last Saturday, I swam my best time in two years in the 200 fly and 200 breaststroke. I came really close in the 50 breaststroke, and I swam faster than I thought I would in all four of my races and the relay. I arrived at the meet on Sunday ready to duplicate Saturday's success. I swam the exact same warm-up as Saturday; however, my 200 IM felt like HELL. I almost scratched the remainder of my races. My husband was with me, though, and I didn't want to disappoint him, especially after our 1-hr drive to the pool each way. I also didn't want to disappoint myself by quitting; but, Saturday really took it out of me. Immediately following the 200 IM, I swam the 50 backstroke, an off event I hadn't raced in two years. I thought, what the heck, I will swim this race and then see how I feel. I ended up only five one-hundredths of a second off my 2017 time at that meet, and I hadn't trained that race at all! After that, I was in a much better mood, and I even volunteered for a relay at the end of the day. The moral of the story: Take it one day at a time, and don't let any one day in the pool define you as a Masters swimmer or a person! Keep an eye on the long-range goal. Congratulations! Thank you for reporting on not only the successes but also how you felt & why. And also for the reminder about day-at-a-time and yet also focusing on the long range picture. I think I need to remind myself about this most days.