should i do doubles

Thanks for the great post and additional insight. I would suggest just trying one morning a week at first. Some get addicted to the morning workout, even to the point where they don't do afternoons. Some don't function correctly after a morning workout. It isn't like you are honoring a scholarship and have to show up to mornings no matter what. If you like one double per week, try two. I wouldn't do more than three though. I, personally, workout about 7k 6 days per week, lift Tues and Thurs from 6AM-8AM, with both gym workouts followed by an hour of easy technique swimming so as not to bulk up and lose flexibility. Also, before M/W/F afternoon workouts each week, I run 3 miles and do plyos for an hour. I then play tennis for two hours on Sunday and swim about 1000 to hang on to feel for Monday workout. My yardage declines throughout the season(down to 4-5K), and I am actually a 100 swimmer. 43 free, 47 fly/back!?, and I've only been swimming for 10 months. Don't believe too much hype about the sprinters doing almost nothing in the pool, you need your aerobic base before you can train power/sprints. A lot of these online posters don't seem to understand that. For example, Dara did her aerobic work out of the water. I've swum in workouts next to her/watched her workout many times and know her coach a little bit. She spent two hours per day in the pool, and an average of 1-1.5 hours in the gym per day.(Usually M/W/F doing cardio/spin etc., and T/Th lifting) This does not include her hours and hours spent each week stretching/yoga/getting massages. On top of that she has a lifetime of aerobic base and is a uniquely gifted athlete. So if I were you(recover quickly/medium yardage trainer) I'd probably swim M-F afternoon, swim Wed morning, and lift T/Th/Sat. On Saturday I would swim easy recovery after lifting to loosen up and mentally relax. Then on Sunday I'd get really drunk watching the Raiders and Niners lose. Rinse and Repeat.

Thanks for the great post and additional insight. I would suggest just trying one morning a week at first. Some get addicted to the morning workout, even to the point where they don't do afternoons. Some don't function correctly after a morning workout. It isn't like you are honoring a scholarship and have to show up to mornings no matter what. If you like one double per week, try two. I wouldn't do more than three though. I, personally, workout about 7k 6 days per week, lift Tues and Thurs from 6AM-8AM, with both gym workouts followed by an hour of easy technique swimming so as not to bulk up and lose flexibility. Also, before M/W/F afternoon workouts each week, I run 3 miles and do plyos for an hour. I then play tennis for two hours on Sunday and swim about 1000 to hang on to feel for Monday workout. My yardage declines throughout the season(down to 4-5K), and I am actually a 100 swimmer. 43 free, 47 fly/back!?, and I've only been swimming for 10 months. Don't believe too much hype about the sprinters doing almost nothing in the pool, you need your aerobic base before you can train power/sprints. A lot of these online posters don't seem to understand that. For example, Dara did her aerobic work out of the water. I've swum in workouts next to her/watched her workout many times and know her coach a little bit. She spent two hours per day in the pool, and an average of 1-1.5 hours in the gym per day.(Usually M/W/F doing cardio/spin etc., and T/Th lifting) This does not include her hours and hours spent each week stretching/yoga/getting massages. On top of that she has a lifetime of aerobic base and is a uniquely gifted athlete. So if I were you(recover quickly/medium yardage trainer) I'd probably swim M-F afternoon, swim Wed morning, and lift T/Th/Sat. On Saturday I would swim easy recovery after lifting to loosen up and mentally relax. Then on Sunday I'd get really drunk watching the Raiders and Niners lose. Rinse and Repeat.