Does anyone know a thread or a website where I could get a better idea of what older and not former competitively trained swimmers are doing time-wise?
It seems to always be the winning times which are posted. I was looking at the USA Swimming Times, at the oldest age (50) and the lowest category (B) and the guy was STILL doing a 20min 1650!!
I'm 58, 6'1" (6'4" arm span) 180lbs. And I'm forever stuck at a 29-30 minute mile.
I know that if I was training with Masters I would do better, but they are too far away. (Money is being raised for a YMCA, so that could change)
I'd love to know what average times older swimmers who have taken up swimming AFTER college (no previous team experience), but have a passion for the sport are achieving.
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
Somewhere on this forum a man created a document that ranked times aaaa / aaa/ aa / a / b / c like usa swimming does for the age-groupers. Try searching the forum for this unofficial ranking. I think National cuts were generally aa or aaa times. I'd search for it for you but it's 12:15 a.m. and I have to be up at 6 a.m. for school. I'll look tomorrow night if you haven't found it.
It's here: Masters Motivational Times - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
But I don't think the even the "B" times are Average Joe/Jane times.
Triathletes are a better representation of adult-onset swimmers than Masters swimmers. I swim with a lot of triathletes. Of the adult-onset triathlon swimmers I know, even those who are serious about improving (i.e. swims with a team, works with a coach, swims at least 3x/week) would be lucky to hit the B times in 3 years.
A 70th percentile triathlon swimmer would find him/herself in the 30th percentile of the 1-hour postal swim. And he/she is still way faster than a fitness swimmer.
Somewhere on this forum a man created a document that ranked times aaaa / aaa/ aa / a / b / c like usa swimming does for the age-groupers. Try searching the forum for this unofficial ranking. I think National cuts were generally aa or aaa times. I'd search for it for you but it's 12:15 a.m. and I have to be up at 6 a.m. for school. I'll look tomorrow night if you haven't found it.
It's here: Masters Motivational Times - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
But I don't think the even the "B" times are Average Joe/Jane times.
Triathletes are a better representation of adult-onset swimmers than Masters swimmers. I swim with a lot of triathletes. Of the adult-onset triathlon swimmers I know, even those who are serious about improving (i.e. swims with a team, works with a coach, swims at least 3x/week) would be lucky to hit the B times in 3 years.
A 70th percentile triathlon swimmer would find him/herself in the 30th percentile of the 1-hour postal swim. And he/she is still way faster than a fitness swimmer.
