I've been reading this board for a while now, and I've been debating the issue of whether or not I'm ready to start swimming with a masters group. Right now, I'm slow, I need to lose about 50 lbs, and I live in the land of amazingly fit and athletic people.
Growing up, I did swimming and diving on and off for several years, and took up swimming a couple years ago to get back in shape, lose weight, and deal with stress. During the summer I'll do a couple open water swims (1 or 2 miles) and my workouts vary between 2,000 and 3,500 yards, depending on whether I'm getting ready for a certain distance, or just splashing around in the off season.
Part of me wants to give a masters team a try, in an attempt to get faster and improve technique... but I'm a bit worried about being the "slow fat chick." Any thoughts? Should I wait, or give it a go?
Parents
Former Member
Meli -
Join now! I AM the "slow fat chick" in my Masters workouts, and it doesn't matter - and I live in L.A., land of the superfit skinnies. I don't care - it's for me.
And I am a LOT worse than you are - I only learned to swim about 4 years ago (I'm 35), and just came back in November after an 8 month layoff. I swim in the slowest lane, with long fins, and often struggle with the intervals (I swim about a 2:20 for 100 yards!). I've only broken 2000 yards in a 1 hour workout (and that was yesterday - it was my goal for 2003, and I've made it. Now, I want to aim for consistent 2000 yard workouts).
But my coaches have been fantastic at helping me get back to it, and to improve.
You'll be fine. Joining is the hardest part.
Meli -
Join now! I AM the "slow fat chick" in my Masters workouts, and it doesn't matter - and I live in L.A., land of the superfit skinnies. I don't care - it's for me.
And I am a LOT worse than you are - I only learned to swim about 4 years ago (I'm 35), and just came back in November after an 8 month layoff. I swim in the slowest lane, with long fins, and often struggle with the intervals (I swim about a 2:20 for 100 yards!). I've only broken 2000 yards in a 1 hour workout (and that was yesterday - it was my goal for 2003, and I've made it. Now, I want to aim for consistent 2000 yard workouts).
But my coaches have been fantastic at helping me get back to it, and to improve.
You'll be fine. Joining is the hardest part.
