I just started a "class" where I am working with an instructor in improving my swimming technique. I am 60 years old and newly retired and I am now taking the time to exercise. I am out of shape and overweight, but love swimming and am looking forward to becoming a stronger swimmer to improve my health and all the benefits that come with it.
So, today, I told my instructor I wanted to see how fast (um, slow) it would take me to swim 50 yard freestyle to get a baseline on swimming time. It took me 76 seconds (1 min 16 seconds). I looked up the record time for women age 60-64 and it was right under 30 seconds - so I am in awe of someone can swim that fast.
It's not my goal necessarily to compete or go faster as it is to be a better, more efficient swimmer, so learning the basics and working on certain areas is where I am.
However, I am wondering how some of you started and where you are now compared to when you started - just to hear people's stories, especially those of you who are a little older. I look forward to hearing from others or directing me to a place where I can read about these stories!
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
First, congratulations on making the commitment to improving your health and lifestyle!
I'm 63.
I swam on a club team as a kid until I was 15, then quit to pursue other interests (football, wrestling, girls, etc.).
I stayed active over the years, but really didn't do any serious swimming again until age 50 when I started doing triathlons. Due to some nagging running injuries I decided to go back to just swimming full-time early last year.
When I was competing in triathlons I was generally swimming at a pace around 1:50/100 yards for open water races from 400 yards up to 1500 meters on a minimal amount of swim training. Not fast for serious swimmers, but competitive for my age group in triathlon, and leaving me with gas in the tank for the bike and run.
The masters team I joined last year had a coach who was an excellent stroke technician. She worked a lot with me on my technique and got my 100 yard times down into the mid 1:20's within about eight months.
I swim 5-6 days per week and have logged 500,000 yards in the past year.
I've also spent a lot of time over the past year working on my other strokes. I've made a lot of progress with my butterfly and backstroke, but breaststroke continues to frustrate me.
I enjoy competing in Masters meets, both to challenge myself and for the social aspect. I know I don't have the time, talent, or ability to ever be super fast, but I still love that I'm able to go to the pool in the mornings and work hard to get better.
Hi Cathy,
First, congratulations on making the commitment to improving your health and lifestyle!
I'm 63.
I swam on a club team as a kid until I was 15, then quit to pursue other interests (football, wrestling, girls, etc.).
I stayed active over the years, but really didn't do any serious swimming again until age 50 when I started doing triathlons. Due to some nagging running injuries I decided to go back to just swimming full-time early last year.
When I was competing in triathlons I was generally swimming at a pace around 1:50/100 yards for open water races from 400 yards up to 1500 meters on a minimal amount of swim training. Not fast for serious swimmers, but competitive for my age group in triathlon, and leaving me with gas in the tank for the bike and run.
The masters team I joined last year had a coach who was an excellent stroke technician. She worked a lot with me on my technique and got my 100 yard times down into the mid 1:20's within about eight months.
I swim 5-6 days per week and have logged 500,000 yards in the past year.
I've also spent a lot of time over the past year working on my other strokes. I've made a lot of progress with my butterfly and backstroke, but breaststroke continues to frustrate me.
I enjoy competing in Masters meets, both to challenge myself and for the social aspect. I know I don't have the time, talent, or ability to ever be super fast, but I still love that I'm able to go to the pool in the mornings and work hard to get better.
