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?
Shannalee -- I concur/agree with all of the posters here! -- I started swimming with a masters group Jan 2010 & haven't looked back. For me at least, swimming with others is beneficial (the camradere, others to keep up with-- "chase the bubbles", to hold intervals, that sort of thing). And on the day that my coach is on deck (Saturdays) I have received many tips, pointers, etc. :)
IOW, I think the discipline of a structured workout & having fellow swimmers doing them is a great motivation factor. I swim on my own (on my workdays) & try to do masters-like workouts. My feeling is that if I just swam on my own, I would not have come a fifth as far as I have swimming w/ a team (my :2cents:). Best wishes to you!
Swimming with a masters team is fun and not so fun at the same time. My coach has us do things I would NEVER push myself to do when swimming alone. The workouts he writes on his board average 5000-6000 yards. Our last practice he had us do seven 200 yard swims on intervals of our choice (3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 4:00). I did the 3:15 interval and was cursing under water the whole time. But when I finished I was smiling ear to ear. The practice before that it was eleven 150 yard swims on intervals. No way I do that swimming by myself.
All the yardage I have been putting in plus the pointers I get have been invaluable. I have improved more in the 10 months since I joined than in the 2+ years prior. This morning there was no practice so I swam on my own and did a 500 yard free warmup at a very relaxed pace in 7 minutes. That 500 yard warmup used to easily take me 10 minutes. There have been few AHA moments, but better technique has somehow diffused into my swimming. Same with my other strokes.
Betsy Durant, a poster on the forum, is a masters coach in the Va. Beach area. If you have gotten a punch card with her team, I highly recommend you attend any of her practices that you are able to get too.
Joining a masters team is a blast! You will be amazed at how quickly you reach a 1000yds while swimming with a coach and teammates. You will probably not even know that you have passed way over a 1000 yds while swimming with the group one day.
The punchcard I got is from the Tidewater Aquatic Club. I did meet Betsy at Colonies Zone and she (and the others from VMST) are very nice. I think all of her practices are early morning - I will try one of hers if I have the day off.
Really, 1000m isn't much more than 850m. What I was worried about if showing up right now and being expected to do 2,000-3,000m. But I don't think that will happen in the beginning.
I was a 1:50/100 swimmer for 16 years then after about 3-4 months of working out with a non-masters (but very similar) group, I was going 1:35/100. That's hardly fast, but I think it's a huge improvement. For 16 years, I would get in, swim a mile or a little more in a steady pace, get out. That did nothing for speed/endurance/power. I also got some stroke tips from the coach, but that wasn't until well into the initial 3-4 months. What really helped me was interval training and pushing myself to make the intervals even when it hurt. It really built up my speed and endurance in a major way, forcing me to go another 100 when it was uncomfortable, understanding the idea of active recovery, descending sets, sprint sets, etc. Check out the Workouts board here or just google some swim workouts. Tailor them to your ability (interval length, distance, # of repeats, etc.) - this will probably take a bit of trial & error to figure out what works for you but you'll figure it out soon enough. Write out what you think you can do and stick to it, even if it hurts. Always structure your workouts: warm-up/kick/maybe some drills/main set/cool-down. Before doing this type of workout, I was happy to get 2000 yards into a single session. Now I go 3000+ in about an hour. I totally understand the punch card preference - I'm kind of in the same boat with my schedule... so I kind of have to make do w/ solo workouts and only occasional team workouts. Also don't feel weird or embarrassed to sit out some sets in a masters workout.
Edit: haha, I have no idea how that frownie got there!
Betsy Durant, a poster on the forum, is a masters coach in the Va. Beach area. If you have gotten a punch card with her team, I highly recommend you attend any of her practices that you are able to get too.
Joining a masters team is a blast! You will be amazed at how quickly you reach a 1000yds while swimming with a coach and teammates. You will probably not even know that you have passed way over a 1000 yds while swimming with the group one day.
I have been working on my swimming for the last 3 years. I took a few classes, but I initially swam alone and could do 50m in about 70 seconds. Latter I joined a very small master group at the gym. Swimming with group help with my stamina and kept it interesting. About 6 months ago the group at the gym died after the coach left, and I’m back to swimming by myself although I just started weekly dropping in on a master team.
Currently I swim about 2000m four times a week. I can now do a 50m in 48 seconds which I suspect is not stellar improvement. I’m 55 so maybe everything takes longer. The biggest problem I have when swimming with a team is finding the slowest lane and then convincing people that I should swim last.
I just discovered that National Age Group Motivational time (grade B) for boys 10 and under for a 50 m free is 42.9 seconds. Sigh. I need a beer.
Regards,
Mike
I just discovered that National Age Group Motivational time (grade B) for boys 10 and under for a 50 m free is 42.9 seconds. Sigh. I need a beer.
I was going to direct you here:
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
but looking at the times I now think you'd need 2 beers :chug:
Still 70s to 48s is no small improvement, keep going at that rate and in another 3 years, you'll be swimming 26s for a 50 :D
What I was worried about if showing up right now and being expected to do 2,000-3,000m.
We are adults, not children. You can get out when you have met your goals for the workout.
