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
I'm not a huge fan of off days. My normal week is probably someone elses' idea of hell week. But just in terms of the swimming, I try to get in 4 or 5 days per week, with an average of 4000 per workout. And my sets are normally long/easy or long fartlek sets. My favorite is 4x500 with 11 minute between (and alternating easy and hard laps).
I'm not a huge fan of off days. My normal week is probably someone elses' idea of hell week. But just in terms of the swimming, I try to get in 4 or 5 days per week, with an average of 4000 per workout. And my sets are normally long/easy or long fartlek sets. My favorite is 4x500 with 11 minute between (and alternating easy and hard laps).
