What do YOU need to do to have a major swimming breakthrough?"

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and also new to masters. I'm 20 years old male, my name is Jesse. I just joined masters a couple weeks ago but I joined unattached because the masters team where I live (wilmington, nc) doesn't accomodate my schedule. I swam my first ever masters meet last weekend. I started swimming a little over 3 years ago during my senior year of high school. Before that I was a runner so I came into it was a good aerobic base, I just didn't know anything about technique. After about 6 months on a club team I went 5:13 500 fr, 1:57 200fr, and 52.8 100fr. These times were at a meet where I was shaved and tapered. Back then I was 6'0" and weighed about 155lbs, and was swimming with my team about 30,000 yds. a week. 3 years later and in college I am still 6'0" but 175 lbs. I didn't gain much fat though, mostly muscle because I started lifting weights. The meet I swam last weekend I went 5:16 500 fr, 11:02 1000 fr (first time I swam the 1000 and now it's my new favorite race), and 53.8 100fr. I was pleased with the times from this meet because my training isn't as much as it was when I got my best times and I wasn't shaved or tapered for it. After high school I kept swimming but it was mainly just to stay in shape, I was only doing 2000-3000 easy yards 4 or 5 times a week. I started back serious training again about 4 months ago. My goal for the next year is to break 5:00 in the 500 fr. My training now is I'm swimming tue, thu, and sat about 4,500 yds each practice, and on mon, wed, fri, I lift first then swim between 2,500 and 3,000, all my yardage is scy. I swim alone with no coach or teammates so it can get kinda boring. I also make up all my practice and most of my main sets are between 1500 and 2500 yds free on a 1:20 base interval with other random stuff thrown in there to get the yardage up. I know there is no magic set that makes anyone faster but I'm looking for workouts tailored to improving 500y free and 1000 y free. I know there are ways out there for me to improve I just haven't gotten my hands on them yet. I want to keep my yardage where it's at for now but maybe even it out from day to day. Could it be possible to break 5:00 in the 500 on 4,000 yds./day with weightlifting and quality yardage? Any advice will be greatly appreciated, especially from ande, you really know your stuff. I feel like I am going in circles as far as training goes. I want to have that breakthrough that this thread is all about.

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and also new to masters. I'm 20 years old male, my name is Jesse. I just joined masters a couple weeks ago but I joined unattached because the masters team where I live (wilmington, nc) doesn't accomodate my schedule. I swam my first ever masters meet last weekend. I started swimming a little over 3 years ago during my senior year of high school. Before that I was a runner so I came into it was a good aerobic base, I just didn't know anything about technique. After about 6 months on a club team I went 5:13 500 fr, 1:57 200fr, and 52.8 100fr. These times were at a meet where I was shaved and tapered. Back then I was 6'0" and weighed about 155lbs, and was swimming with my team about 30,000 yds. a week. 3 years later and in college I am still 6'0" but 175 lbs. I didn't gain much fat though, mostly muscle because I started lifting weights. The meet I swam last weekend I went 5:16 500 fr, 11:02 1000 fr (first time I swam the 1000 and now it's my new favorite race), and 53.8 100fr. I was pleased with the times from this meet because my training isn't as much as it was when I got my best times and I wasn't shaved or tapered for it. After high school I kept swimming but it was mainly just to stay in shape, I was only doing 2000-3000 easy yards 4 or 5 times a week. I started back serious training again about 4 months ago. My goal for the next year is to break 5:00 in the 500 fr. My training now is I'm swimming tue, thu, and sat about 4,500 yds each practice, and on mon, wed, fri, I lift first then swim between 2,500 and 3,000, all my yardage is scy. I swim alone with no coach or teammates so it can get kinda boring. I also make up all my practice and most of my main sets are between 1500 and 2500 yds free on a 1:20 base interval with other random stuff thrown in there to get the yardage up. I know there is no magic set that makes anyone faster but I'm looking for workouts tailored to improving 500y free and 1000 y free. I know there are ways out there for me to improve I just haven't gotten my hands on them yet. I want to keep my yardage where it's at for now but maybe even it out from day to day. Could it be possible to break 5:00 in the 500 on 4,000 yds./day with weightlifting and quality yardage? Any advice will be greatly appreciated, especially from ande, you really know your stuff. I feel like I am going in circles as far as training goes. I want to have that breakthrough that this thread is all about.