Lots of folks on this board are pretty experienced competitive swimmers (and you're awesome), but I'm wondering how many of us are in it just for fun/fitness. Is Masters really about competition, or is there room for the fitness swimmer, too?
Of course, I'm looking to get better, improve my stroke and kick and get a little faster. But only because it ups the fitness quotient. I didn't get into swimming to compete, but because my hereditary arthritis started kicking in and I figured it was a safe, effective way to exercise and drop those pounds my doctor's been hounding me about.
Who out there is a non-competitor, how many times a week to you swim, and do you count laps, time, or just do whatever feels good?
sftom, I think that's because a lot of the USMS folks are good swimmers, even if the don't post great times at the meets. Most of the swimmers I've met have been at it for a long time, and started when they were kids, whereas I started as an adult. They're pretty fearless, I'm not.
To give USMS credit, from what I'm seeing in replies to this post, pretty much everybody is in competition with themselves. What I don't see are articles in the magazine or online geared toward the fitness swimmer. I'd like some articles on nutrition advice, some easy drills to build up stamina, alternative exercises that improve stamina in the pool, and so forth. Maybe there have been but I haven't seen them since I've been a member.
ElaineK, I saw you do the butterfly and you may not be the fastest, but you are excellent. You have impressive strength and skill. I will be rooting for you on October 13th. You go, girl.
Trying a local meet isn't a bad idea. But I have to get to the point where I'm not gasping for breath at the end of each lap.
I still don't like to share a lane with a bunch of other people. I'm still not accustomed to being tossed around and slammed into the ropes or have someone whack me with with their backstroke. I'm going to go to a master's swim near me. The coach said I can have my own lane.
I didn't mean for this thread to sound like I'm down on competition, because I'm not. I really enjoyed meeting ElaineK and Swimosaur at the Nationals. Watching the event was truly inspiring, and I could tell that everyone was having a great time.
I was just hoping some of the non-competitors would weigh in here with their workouts, how often they swim, whether they set any goals, and whether they have been able to lose weight and keep it off.
sftom, I think that's because a lot of the USMS folks are good swimmers, even if the don't post great times at the meets. Most of the swimmers I've met have been at it for a long time, and started when they were kids, whereas I started as an adult. They're pretty fearless, I'm not.
To give USMS credit, from what I'm seeing in replies to this post, pretty much everybody is in competition with themselves. What I don't see are articles in the magazine or online geared toward the fitness swimmer. I'd like some articles on nutrition advice, some easy drills to build up stamina, alternative exercises that improve stamina in the pool, and so forth. Maybe there have been but I haven't seen them since I've been a member.
ElaineK, I saw you do the butterfly and you may not be the fastest, but you are excellent. You have impressive strength and skill. I will be rooting for you on October 13th. You go, girl.
Trying a local meet isn't a bad idea. But I have to get to the point where I'm not gasping for breath at the end of each lap.
I still don't like to share a lane with a bunch of other people. I'm still not accustomed to being tossed around and slammed into the ropes or have someone whack me with with their backstroke. I'm going to go to a master's swim near me. The coach said I can have my own lane.
I didn't mean for this thread to sound like I'm down on competition, because I'm not. I really enjoyed meeting ElaineK and Swimosaur at the Nationals. Watching the event was truly inspiring, and I could tell that everyone was having a great time.
I was just hoping some of the non-competitors would weigh in here with their workouts, how often they swim, whether they set any goals, and whether they have been able to lose weight and keep it off.
