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 joined a workout group by happenstance. I was swimming by myself and lucky to swim 50s in 55 seconds. Then the local YWCA closed. A noon workout group moved across town to the YMCA where I was swimming. Most days, I was finishing my workout when they were starting, so I got a pretty good idea of just how much slower I was. Because of that, I would have never have joined them if a couple of the swimmers hadn't suggested I try to do their workouts. Even then, I was nervous at first. I was slow, I didn't want to get in people's way, etc.
Several years later, I'd say joining that group was one of the luckiest things to ever happen to me. Sure, at first, I'd sit out parts of sets and even then some days I'd leave the pool wondering how I was going to lift my arms. But I learned a lot and got faster -- much faster and in a shorter period of time than I ever got on my own.
That's just the swimming side. I also met a bunch of great people and made many friends. I am lucky to be able to swim, but I am luckier to be able to swim with friends. I know everyone's experience will be different, but mostly I've found swimmers to be welcoming and good people to know.
Just my :2cents:
I joined a workout group by happenstance. I was swimming by myself and lucky to swim 50s in 55 seconds. Then the local YWCA closed. A noon workout group moved across town to the YMCA where I was swimming. Most days, I was finishing my workout when they were starting, so I got a pretty good idea of just how much slower I was. Because of that, I would have never have joined them if a couple of the swimmers hadn't suggested I try to do their workouts. Even then, I was nervous at first. I was slow, I didn't want to get in people's way, etc.
Several years later, I'd say joining that group was one of the luckiest things to ever happen to me. Sure, at first, I'd sit out parts of sets and even then some days I'd leave the pool wondering how I was going to lift my arms. But I learned a lot and got faster -- much faster and in a shorter period of time than I ever got on my own.
That's just the swimming side. I also met a bunch of great people and made many friends. I am lucky to be able to swim, but I am luckier to be able to swim with friends. I know everyone's experience will be different, but mostly I've found swimmers to be welcoming and good people to know.
Just my :2cents:
