Swimming frequency vs. duration

(1) frequency vs duration I find that there are limits. It seems that if I swim more frequently, the distance each time can be increased. These limits have stayed quite steady for me between ages 17 through 41 now. (a) If I swim once per day, 5 times per week, I can do 5000+ yds each (about two hours). (total 25000+ yds per week) (b) If I do doubles (twice per day), 4-5 times per week, I can haul about 3000-4000 yds each. (about an hour each) (total up to 40000 yds per week) (c) If I swim once per day, 3 times per week, I can not do more than about 3000 yds each time. (about an hour each)(total 9000 yds per week) (d) If I swim once per day, only 2 times per week, I can not do more than 2500 yds each and I need a day between. (about an hour each)(total 5000 yds per week) If I do 5000 yds just twice per week, my body gets hurt and torn up. For scenarios (a) and (b), serious lifestyle alterations have to occur--major changes in eating habits. I need a lot more fuel, up to 4000 calories per day. If I'm working, (b) is impossible to fit in my schedule. With family responsibilities, (a) and even (c) become hard to fit in the schedule. For (c) and (d), I can get by with just normal food intake at 2000 calories per day. I heard rumor that Michael Phelps did 28000 yds per day, seven days per week. (That's nearly 200000 yds per week!!!) I have a hard time conceptualizing that without absolutely nothing but eating, sleeping and swimming. (2) chlorine. I'm not even sure why I shower immediately after getting out of the pool. I smell the chlorine come up in the few hours after anyway. It seems that a good shower a few hours after the swim works best. Wearing a cap really keeps the chlorine out of my hair, especially if I soak my hair in fresh water before I put the cap on, before I swim.

(1) frequency vs duration I find that there are limits. It seems that if I swim more frequently, the distance each time can be increased. These limits have stayed quite steady for me between ages 17 through 41 now. (a) If I swim once per day, 5 times per week, I can do 5000+ yds each (about two hours). (total 25000+ yds per week) (b) If I do doubles (twice per day), 4-5 times per week, I can haul about 3000-4000 yds each. (about an hour each) (total up to 40000 yds per week) (c) If I swim once per day, 3 times per week, I can not do more than about 3000 yds each time. (about an hour each)(total 9000 yds per week) (d) If I swim once per day, only 2 times per week, I can not do more than 2500 yds each and I need a day between. (about an hour each)(total 5000 yds per week) If I do 5000 yds just twice per week, my body gets hurt and torn up. For scenarios (a) and (b), serious lifestyle alterations have to occur--major changes in eating habits. I need a lot more fuel, up to 4000 calories per day. If I'm working, (b) is impossible to fit in my schedule. With family responsibilities, (a) and even (c) become hard to fit in the schedule. For (c) and (d), I can get by with just normal food intake at 2000 calories per day. I heard rumor that Michael Phelps did 28000 yds per day, seven days per week. (That's nearly 200000 yds per week!!!) I have a hard time conceptualizing that without absolutely nothing but eating, sleeping and swimming. (2) chlorine. I'm not even sure why I shower immediately after getting out of the pool. I smell the chlorine come up in the few hours after anyway. It seems that a good shower a few hours after the swim works best. Wearing a cap really keeps the chlorine out of my hair, especially if I soak my hair in fresh water before I put the cap on, before I swim.