I was just wondering. At what point is ones swimming career while they realise that they have hit the wall, and then sur passed it and they cant possibly go faster??
The reason I ask is because Phelphs is "retiring" after the 2012 games.
But then I see athlets go out and compete that are well into their late 20's and early 30's.
What is the averge prime age for a male swimmer before times start becoming slower???
I did my best times at 31,faster than in college,Then we had kids.I don't know if I would have kept getting faster if I could have trained as much.From 32-45 my workouts were maybe 45 min 3-4X/wk if I was lucky.
I don't see any reason why swimming wouldn't be like other sports and typically athletes are in "the prime of their career" in their late 20s to early 30s. The difference between sports like baseball and football and swimming--of course--is it's a lot harder to make a good living swimming, thus most swimmers retire sometime in their 20s.
At about age 50 one can no longer avoid the loss of muscle mass from aging. This apparently happens because aging changes kidney function and increases the release of nitrogen from the body. Nitrogen is an essential element for building muscles. Friel states (paraphrased) in his Triathletes Training Bible: you begin peeing out your muscles at about the mid-century mark. I would guess this could start earlier and that other physical aging, illness, injury and life could catch up with you long before 50.
The muscle loss process after 50 can apparently be slowed by dietary changes - eat more foods that keep your blood supply alkaline - primarily veggies and fruits - rasins and spinach for instance produce high levels of blood alkalinity. Most grains and protein have the opposite impact in that they create acidic conditions in your blood, and this hastens the loss of nitrogen and muscle, and I suppose making it harder to build muscle at this point.
To slow the loss process down, being careful about the sources of protein and grains seems important - all grains and proteins ar not equal - for instance some cheeses produce the highest levels of blood acidity. (I've stopped putting more than a 1/2 lb. of parm cheese on my pasta :) .) Friel doesn't say whether to reduce protein intake once you hit mid-century, and I'm still wondering?? Consuming protein that produces lower blood acidity would seem to make sense, and consuming more alkaline foods to counter the acids too?? Beacause fats and oils are neutral, would it help to get more protein from these sources?? I'm still trying to figure this balancing act out. So as you approach the 50 mark remember:
Turning 50 :cake: beats the hell out of the alternative.
Swim more efficiently once you hit 50 and pull on the lane ropes.
There's still plenty of time if in your mid-20s to get stronger and faster. Enjoy the journey.:bolt:
I'm not sure if a diet of high alkaline foods will reduce N and muscle loss in younger adult athletes, but eating more alkaline veggies, fruit, and lower blood acid proteins probably won't hurt.
At about age 50 one can no longer avoid the loss of muscle mass from aging. This apparently happens because aging changes kidney function and increases the release of nitrogen from the body.
I'm 50 and I just did best 1RM on the deadlift today. I haven't noticed muscle loss yet, though I'm sure it'll be along in the not so distant future.
I learned to swim as a kid, but never swam on a team or anything until I started masters swimming when I was 28.
Even now, in my early 40s, most of the events that I swim (when I swim meets) are faster than when I was younger.
I've asked some people when I will slow down, and the general consensus seems to be around 45. One of my former coaches set some PBs when he was well into his 70s (I guess that just requires doing events you didn't do before).
