Sorry if this is overlong, but I am discouraged, and need some encouragement. Since getting back in to swimming this past summer at the age of 54, I have been in 3 events. My main stroke is the 50 breaststroke. This summer I swam a 39.42 for 50 meters in a non-sanctioned event (they take the middle time of 3 hand-held timers). I was delighted, because 36 years earlier at 18 my best time was about 36 seconds (and that was a relay split as we only had 100s back then), so I figured for a guy my age, that time (the 39+) was pretty good. I had only trained about 7 weeks. I had a trainer for dry land workouts, but really no swim coaching at all.
In my second meet, and my first sanctioned one, I did 40.71 (also for 50 meters) in October. Today, I did a 38.0 for 50 yards, which translated to about 42 and change.
When I did the 39.4, I swam 6 events, for a total of 225 meters (there were some 25s). Today I swam only 1. I have also gone from 220 pounds down to about 203 (I am still overweight with about 19% body fat). It seems that things should point to my getting faster, not slower.
Two things have changed...I am logging MORE time in the water, but have reduced my dry land training to almost zero...just doing 100-200 pushups a few times a week, but no work with a personal trainer. Secondly, I am trying to use the new breaststroke technique, introducing the dolphin kick, focusing on getting more streamlined and submerging my whole body on the extension, tucking my head to lower water resistance, and lifting my head out of the water less on the outsweep. I am guessing the learning the new methods is taking some time...it is not automatic yet...I still have to think about it.
I guess I answered my own question to some extent, but would like to know if folks think I should just revert to my old flat style or keep trying to perfect the new. I also welcome any other ideas about training, day of race prep, and the like. I feel great in practice, and some of the lifeguards who are swimmers say I look fast, but on race day, I seem to psyche myself out and forget to concentrate on what I am doing.
Keep with the new stroke(but post a video so we can make sure you are doing it right.)Every time I have redone my stroke there has been a really clumsy/slow time before I "got it".At one meet in the middle of a transition said"you look like you are thinking instead of swimming."The modern breaststroke is so much more streamlined it will be worth the effort.
I feel overwhelmed (no BS) by the outpouring of support and by the helpful suggestions. I realize I can be a bit too type-A about this whole thing...I actually got back into swimming after I had a brief stint as a secondary school principal and was way too sedentary and way too stressed out...I ended up being told by my doctor that I am have borderline type-II diabetes...so losing weight and getting healthy is the most important thing, and the rest is gravy.
To answer the questions some folks asked...
I am 5-8 3/4 with a stocky build...yes, I weighed 220 when I first competed back in July, and am now down to about ~203, give or take...my goal weight is 185. That will put me in the 15% body fat range. Back in the day...when I was 18...my last year swimming for a summer club team, I weighed about 165-170 and I did 100 Meter breaststroke in about 1:22, with a split in the mid 36s. I was never better than average, and I never even considered swimming in college. Then again, back then, I never recall getting any real coaching other than the coach yelling at me for dogging it or missing practice...and I actually used to smoke cigarettes, though not heavily, and some other stuff, too (hey, it was the 70s). I am happy to have put all that behind me.
I don't know much about fast and slow suits...I use a run-of-the-mill Speedo boxer-style suit. Is there something I should be wearing that is better (but legal!)
All the times I posted were for short course...the first two in meters and the third in yards.
I try to swim 3-4 days per week. I try to hit one mile...on a bad day I do 3/4 and on a good day, I do 2200 (roughly 2000 meters)...I know it is not a lot, but it is more than when I started (1/2 mile when I first got back into swimming). Some weeks I only manage two workouts...
I definitely agree I need to join a team and get some real coaching...it is in the works. And I also need to be more consistent...sometimes I will swim 3 days in a row, get to feeling really good, then I don't get to the pool for four days.
I don't have any videos of me swimming the new style breaststroke...I will ask one of the lifeguards to take a short movie of me with my iphone next time I go to the pool. I certainly welcome suggestions from Dr. Stark...I hope there is no fee for the couch time.
I agree that I should add and/or mix up events. In my last meet (before the one this weekend) I was disappointed in my 50 *** time, but did a personal best in the 50 free. I have never been any good at fly, but I can get through a 25. My backstroke is middling, but I am strong in the other two, so I can see myself doing a 100 IM down the road. I can probably do the 100 free and *** at some point. Maybe eventually I will work up to the 200 and 400 free...but I doubt I would fare very well. I like the idea of just trying it to see what happens. As for the 200 or 400 IM or the 1650 free...not a chance...I am not into self-torture.
I feel overwhelmed (no BS) by the outpouring of support and by the helpful suggestions. I realize I can be a bit too type-A about this whole thing...I actually got back into swimming after I had a brief stint as a secondary school principal and was way too sedentary and way too stressed out...I ended up being told by my doctor that I am have borderline type-II diabetes...so losing weight and getting healthy is the most important thing, and the rest is gravy.
USMS Forumites are a great bunch of very helpful and encouraging people! So, you came to the right place. :agree: As for King Frog (aka Dr. Stark), he has never charged for time on his lily pad. But, he is open to being treated to dinner if you see him at Nationals! :D
As for being type-A about swimming, join the crowd; been there, done that, and still doing so... :blush:
I applaud you for taking control of your health. :applaud: You have chosen the best way to do so (but, I'm biased)! Good luck! :cheerleader:
