Recently, I have been more interested in getting in frequent swim workouts, then actually worrying about what I am trying to accomplish in the water. On many occasions, I will arrive at the pool for an independent workout without a much of a plan.
Are these workouts garbage, or are the beneficial because I am filling the gaps between planned team workouts?
My independent workouts are fairly short, always less than 3k meters unless I have a planned set, and the workouts usually have a single focus, even when that focus materializes only minutes before jumping into the water. The focus can be somewhat general (kick) or it can be specific (EVF while sprinting).
The team workouts usually have a useful theme for the main set.
I don't think these days are garbage. Even if you don't want to improvise or work on specific drills, you can use them as recovery days. If it's a tough yardage week, I find that an active recovery day (long warmup and maybe 1 set of moderate effort) during a tough week helps me finish the week more comfortably. I always feel worse after a day off from the pool- maybe that's the 'feel' aspect you are referring to? I think that you filling the day off is a good thing, hands down.
I don't think these days are garbage. Even if you don't want to improvise or work on specific drills, you can use them as recovery days. If it's a tough yardage week, I find that an active recovery day (long warmup and maybe 1 set of moderate effort) during a tough week helps me finish the week more comfortably. I always feel worse after a day off from the pool- maybe that's the 'feel' aspect you are referring to? I think that you filling the day off is a good thing, hands down.
