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
I am 50 and have belonged to a Master's club for 8 months. I was already in pretty good shape from cycling and taekwondo, but have no prior swim team experience. I did swim to cross train during hot summer weather when cycling is less appealing. I improved my 50 yard time from 1:15 or so when I started to a personal best of 45 seconds (or 50 seconds reliably) in about six months. I think a combination of better form and conditioning. The improvements are not coming so quickly now. I improved my 400 yard time of 14:45 from barely being able to do 400 free without switching to *** or back to 8:38. I can now swim a mile in under 40 minutes, which was what I was working toward. I have started competing in multi sport and open water this year so longer distances are what I am mostly training for. However, I definitely see that working on short distance intervals does have tremendous fitness value that has helped my longer distances.
I am 50 and have belonged to a Master's club for 8 months. I was already in pretty good shape from cycling and taekwondo, but have no prior swim team experience. I did swim to cross train during hot summer weather when cycling is less appealing. I improved my 50 yard time from 1:15 or so when I started to a personal best of 45 seconds (or 50 seconds reliably) in about six months. I think a combination of better form and conditioning. The improvements are not coming so quickly now. I improved my 400 yard time of 14:45 from barely being able to do 400 free without switching to *** or back to 8:38. I can now swim a mile in under 40 minutes, which was what I was working toward. I have started competing in multi sport and open water this year so longer distances are what I am mostly training for. However, I definitely see that working on short distance intervals does have tremendous fitness value that has helped my longer distances.
