I’ve just returned to masters swimming after 20 years out. How close to my old pbs could I get with training? I’m pretty fit but 10 seconds slower in a race now than i was. Any chance of getting close to my young speed?
Check out the records for your age group to see what is definitely possible (if not necessarily likely):
www.usms.org/poolrecords
Only you can say how much effort you're willing to put in to get back to where you were.
Actually, you likely can get back to your old speed or faster.
With good coaching your technique can be better. Many swimmers 20 years ago didn't do enough race pace work. Depending on how good you were then and how committed you are now, you could be faster.
I was only out of the water for about 7 years before doing Masters, but in my 30s I've beaten 4 of my old age group PRs and am well within striking distance of at least 3 more, and that's with me only training 4-5 times per week with way less volume and weights/dryland than I used to do. It's certainly possible!
I returned after a forty year break and am swimming faster than I did during my summer club days in the late '60's.
In part because I was a pretty mediocre swimmer back then, but also due joining my Masters team, improving my technique with some good coaching, and having more fun...
