I started with the local masters about a month ago. We swim 3 mornings a week, generally doing around 3,000 meters. I was previously swimming on my own 4-5 days per week, doing more mileage but with less intensity. Swimming with the group has shown me that my conditioning, kick, and backstroke are weak.
Since starting with the group, I've been swimming on one or both of the off weekdays. I generally go pretty easy (usually no intervals) on the off days and do drills, work on kick, learning fly, etc. I swim for around an hour and probably go 2,500 or so, although I don't really keep track.
I'm 44, 190 pounds, in decent, but apparently not very well-conditioned swimming shape.
Any thoughts on off day workouts? Good idea? Bad idea? Injury waiting to happen? Garbage yardage? Do less mileage, more intervals? Shut up and swim?:)
Thanks for any and all thoughts.
Parents
Former Member
It really depends, in my humble opinion, on your goals and what you find works for you and your body. Are you training for pool events? Specific strokes/distances? Open water swimming? General fitness? Weight loss? If you're training for races, when? SCM? or SCY/LC?
Bottom line, do what works for your body and goals. This time of year, I like to swim 3-4 days a week, and lift weights twice a week, with some swimming thrown in after the weight circuits (so 5-6 days of workout each week . . . in theory at least).
Throw in some cycling or running to keep it interesting and to keep your body from getting into a rut.
But again, the most important thing is to figure out what it is you want to accomplish.
"If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there."
It really depends, in my humble opinion, on your goals and what you find works for you and your body. Are you training for pool events? Specific strokes/distances? Open water swimming? General fitness? Weight loss? If you're training for races, when? SCM? or SCY/LC?
Bottom line, do what works for your body and goals. This time of year, I like to swim 3-4 days a week, and lift weights twice a week, with some swimming thrown in after the weight circuits (so 5-6 days of workout each week . . . in theory at least).
Throw in some cycling or running to keep it interesting and to keep your body from getting into a rut.
But again, the most important thing is to figure out what it is you want to accomplish.
"If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there."
