How much endurance training?

In my first 30 years of swimming I did too much training-to-train-more. My focus since age 50 has been training to race well. In recent years I've learned I need to be far more conscious of recovery-oriented training to be physically prepared for sets that simulate the stroke length and rate at which I'd like to race. That actually takes more discipline and restraint than does pushing myself. This is well and good, but it is mentioned from the point of view of a person over 50. Younger people can train much differently. Swimmers in their 20s and 30s and even 40s may not need to swim mindful with emphasis on restorative swims. They may have the physical capabilities to reach for the sky, so to speak. For many, not all, age becomes a factor so discipline is more important than being able to train as a younger swimmer might. And to Slowfish, I have been swimming the one mile triathlon swim for, now, this will be my 6th year and I am almost 59. I never look at it as a one-mile swim, I break mine down into 4x400 swims and train accordingly. If a swimmer can do repeat 400s or even 200s relatively quickly with minimum rest, then the mile will more seem like a pleasant experience. But you have to train at lower yardage and higher intensity with rest, of course, to get there. Swimming a mile does not necessarily produce a fast mile. And when I had a great 800m free back in the Masters Nationals some 11 years ago or so, I had never swam the 800 free in total; I always broke it up into intervals. So, I think and it is my opinion only, that endurance is necessary, but to produce a solid swim of a mile or less at a faster time, interval training is a must. A swimmer must get used to swimming fast in training because when race day comes about, they are better prepared if they choose to "take it out." Donna

In my first 30 years of swimming I did too much training-to-train-more. My focus since age 50 has been training to race well. In recent years I've learned I need to be far more conscious of recovery-oriented training to be physically prepared for sets that simulate the stroke length and rate at which I'd like to race. That actually takes more discipline and restraint than does pushing myself. This is well and good, but it is mentioned from the point of view of a person over 50. Younger people can train much differently. Swimmers in their 20s and 30s and even 40s may not need to swim mindful with emphasis on restorative swims. They may have the physical capabilities to reach for the sky, so to speak. For many, not all, age becomes a factor so discipline is more important than being able to train as a younger swimmer might. And to Slowfish, I have been swimming the one mile triathlon swim for, now, this will be my 6th year and I am almost 59. I never look at it as a one-mile swim, I break mine down into 4x400 swims and train accordingly. If a swimmer can do repeat 400s or even 200s relatively quickly with minimum rest, then the mile will more seem like a pleasant experience. But you have to train at lower yardage and higher intensity with rest, of course, to get there. Swimming a mile does not necessarily produce a fast mile. And when I had a great 800m free back in the Masters Nationals some 11 years ago or so, I had never swam the 800 free in total; I always broke it up into intervals. So, I think and it is my opinion only, that endurance is necessary, but to produce a solid swim of a mile or less at a faster time, interval training is a must. A swimmer must get used to swimming fast in training because when race day comes about, they are better prepared if they choose to "take it out." Donna