Distance swimmer or sprinter?

Thanks, Kirk. Would you share some of your favorite sets for training distance? This is not an area that I have tons of experience in. Elise, are you self-coached? You might want to try some of the workout in the (appropriately named!) "workouts" forum. I do not use them so I don't know how good they are. Maybe others can comment on good sources for workouts, I am fortunate to have an excellent deck coach. As far as the question of "should" you train for distance or not, that really depends on whether you like those events. (And I would consider the 500 middle-distance, anyway). 10,000 yards per week is a little low, though some manage on that; it depends also on what cross-training you do; I think you mentioned that you do a lot of running? More important than the weekly yardage is the intensity level of your swimming. 20,000 yards of fitness swimming does not prepare you as well as 10,000 yards that contains some high intensity and race-pace efforts.

Thanks, Kirk. Would you share some of your favorite sets for training distance? This is not an area that I have tons of experience in. Elise, are you self-coached? You might want to try some of the workout in the (appropriately named!) "workouts" forum. I do not use them so I don't know how good they are. Maybe others can comment on good sources for workouts, I am fortunate to have an excellent deck coach. As far as the question of "should" you train for distance or not, that really depends on whether you like those events. (And I would consider the 500 middle-distance, anyway). 10,000 yards per week is a little low, though some manage on that; it depends also on what cross-training you do; I think you mentioned that you do a lot of running? More important than the weekly yardage is the intensity level of your swimming. 20,000 yards of fitness swimming does not prepare you as well as 10,000 yards that contains some high intensity and race-pace efforts.