I just started seriously doing lap swimming and joined USMS at the first of this year. I even did my first swim meet at Colonies Zone in April just to see what they are all about.
I do all of my training alone and I started with doing only 400m total a workout and now I up to 850m. I am adding gradually each month. But I am still the same speed - horribly slow (about 1:00 for 50 free) so I have purchased a Masters workout card.
I figured that I am not getting any faster despite swimming almost every day because 1) I don't know how to improve, and 2) maybe being in a workout will speed me up.
Now I am nervous about 1) showing up and being with swimmers who qualified for Nationals, and 2) having a coach who sees how slow I am.
I have signed up for some swim meets in October/November - mostly 50/100 back, 50/100 free, and 50 fly - and I would like to see my time drop somewhat. Or should I not compete until I see my times in training drop?
I concur with everything people have said above, and I must add that swimming just 850 yards will not bring improvement. If you have never swum laps in your life until this year, you should give yourself some time to adapt to the sport. To swim in your first meet four months after starting can be daunting, and your body is just getting used to swimming. If you are stuck at a particular time, it usually means your body is getting over a hump, and once it gets used to swimming, you should see improvement.
I congratulate you on swimming alone (even if it is only 850 yards). If I had to do that every day, I would have quit! Masters teams are fun, low-key and offer motivation within the group you swim with, and within the team as a whole. If you can only make 1,000 yards in the first workout, don't feel bad. Pretty soon, you'll be doing 3,000 no problem!
I concur with everything people have said above, and I must add that swimming just 850 yards will not bring improvement. If you have never swum laps in your life until this year, you should give yourself some time to adapt to the sport. To swim in your first meet four months after starting can be daunting, and your body is just getting used to swimming. If you are stuck at a particular time, it usually means your body is getting over a hump, and once it gets used to swimming, you should see improvement.
I congratulate you on swimming alone (even if it is only 850 yards). If I had to do that every day, I would have quit! Masters teams are fun, low-key and offer motivation within the group you swim with, and within the team as a whole. If you can only make 1,000 yards in the first workout, don't feel bad. Pretty soon, you'll be doing 3,000 no problem!
