After reading alot of threads, it seems my volume and frequency is way lower than everyone elses. My freestyle workouts are typically no more than 1500 to 1700 yards. If it is a repeat workout, then it is less (i.e. 10x100, 5x200, 2x500....etc) I swim three times a week.
My fly, *** and back workouts are no more than 1000 yds (still learning those strokes).
I am biased towards the sprints like 100 free and maybe someday if I'm lucky the 200 IM. Is this volume OK for a 42 year old, or should I be trying to build in more yardage?
If you've only been at it a year, which is about what I'm at, I don't think 1500 yards per workout will make you competitive. But it depends what you mean by "compete." I don't do a ton of yardage, but I do a lot more than that with some quality. Maybe you could fake a good 50, that's not too hard, but a 200 IM?! 200 IMs are painful even if you're in great shape. I'm about to attempt my first one this year after doing a bunch of 100 IMs. Now, 2500-3000 a few times a week is plenty to do some good 50s if you do it the way Allen suggests. (BTW, Allen, I love your idea of getting the sprints in after a long warmup, instead of at the end of workout. I'm going to do that when I swim alone.) Good luck! Leslie
If you've only been at it a year, which is about what I'm at, I don't think 1500 yards per workout will make you competitive. But it depends what you mean by "compete." I don't do a ton of yardage, but I do a lot more than that with some quality. Maybe you could fake a good 50, that's not too hard, but a 200 IM?! 200 IMs are painful even if you're in great shape. I'm about to attempt my first one this year after doing a bunch of 100 IMs. Now, 2500-3000 a few times a week is plenty to do some good 50s if you do it the way Allen suggests. (BTW, Allen, I love your idea of getting the sprints in after a long warmup, instead of at the end of workout. I'm going to do that when I swim alone.) Good luck! Leslie
