Hi! I'm new to this forum. I swam competitively in college and continued to swim on my own for exercise since then. I'm now 43 years old. I don't compete; I've always been kind of a workout swimmer and measured myself based on the intervals I can make and how fast I can repeat a distance consistently on a particular interval. I've spent many years training on my own, and the last few years working out with a group. Up until I was about 40, I pretty much stayed the same pace and was able to make certain intervals on my own, and could make even harder ones when swimming with others. I've noticed that in just the past year, I've gotten significantly slower. I can't make the intervals I used to and my pace time for a 400 yds. is about 10 seconds slower than it was just a few years ago. I haven't changed anything in my training, but I must admit that all I do is aerobic work and anaerobic threshold work - no quality or sprints. Has this happened to anyone else? Any way to change things and get my faster self back? Thanks!
I've noticed that in just the past year, I've gotten significantly slower. I can't make the intervals I used to and my pace time for a 400 yds. is about 10 seconds slower than it was just a few years ago.
I am not against "speed work," but this description does not say "needs speed work" to me. It says "overtrained," or "not getting as much oxygen as before." I really do urge you to consider these factors and to address them, with your doctor if necessary, before assuming that just powering on will do the trick.
I slowed down considerably between 42 and 43, because I worked about 25% more hours in a high-stress profession during the year I was 43 than during the year I was 42. I got pretty overtrained (stress is stress, whether or not you are enjoying it) and had to cut way back on swimming volume and intensity. This year at 44 I was able to reduce work and increase swimming and I swam as well this year as I did at 40-42 (and considerably faster than I swam between 27 and 39).
I've noticed that in just the past year, I've gotten significantly slower. I can't make the intervals I used to and my pace time for a 400 yds. is about 10 seconds slower than it was just a few years ago.
I am not against "speed work," but this description does not say "needs speed work" to me. It says "overtrained," or "not getting as much oxygen as before." I really do urge you to consider these factors and to address them, with your doctor if necessary, before assuming that just powering on will do the trick.
I slowed down considerably between 42 and 43, because I worked about 25% more hours in a high-stress profession during the year I was 43 than during the year I was 42. I got pretty overtrained (stress is stress, whether or not you are enjoying it) and had to cut way back on swimming volume and intensity. This year at 44 I was able to reduce work and increase swimming and I swam as well this year as I did at 40-42 (and considerably faster than I swam between 27 and 39).
