Hi all,
I have just started swimming. I am 25. I am in very good shape but I need something more. I am finding my swimming lessons at the YMCA boring. I want to compete or find a club to train with. I am, by no means, a good swimmer. I am still figuring it all out.
Does anyone have any advice? I don't think I am ready for Masters swimming but I want something more, something to really push me.
Lastly, how do you know when you are ready for Masters swimming? What skills must you have? What is Masters swimming all about? Are there any good resources to contact groups to train with?
Thanks,
Kate:confused:
Former Member
Kate:
Go the website for New England Masters at:
www.swimnem.org
You'll find a list of places to swim with coached workouts in your area. Speak to one of the local representatives and they can answer your question.
There's a lane in masters swimming for anyone who can learn how to swim off a pace clock (something that can be taught in minutes) and learn how to the rules of good lane behavior (basically be aware of the swimmers in front on you and behind you and respect their space).
I'm confident that you'll find a coached masters workout both challenging and rewarding.
Good luck
Hi Kate,
As the previous person mentioned, you are ready to join a masters team. All you need is the will to get better and faster and it seems that you have that. Our masters team is comprised of various swimmers, from very competitive to somewhat competitive and not competitive at all. Our coach makes sure that there is something there for everybody.
train fast and furious and before you know it, you are competing at a great level!!
If you can do freestyle under 2:00 in a 100 yard swim and know at least one or two other strokes masters swimming is for you. And there are masters clubs in your area. You are at a good age to swim because you still have youth on your side. And I bet that being on a team you could do a 50 yard freestyle under the 40 second range by working out with other master swimmers. I'm a 45 year old woman that stop swimming for about 27 years and did a 50 yard breastroke which is the slowest stroke at 42.9 at a recent meet.
I always tell people who are asking about joining our club that our only requirement for membership is that your dues check doesn't bounce!
Seriously, you do NOT have to be a good swimmer to join Masters. We have people on our team who literally do not swim at all (they waterjog). You join Masters for fun, fitness, and camaraderie, and if you want to, you can compete too. You will get better faster if you join a team and work with a coach, and you will meet a lot of nice people, and find that you will enjoy it more and work harder if you have other people to train with.
Take the plunge!
Kate - Jump in and swim. Our YMCA Master's team shares pool time with the Y-Adult Swim Classes. While we are sweating through our 3500 yd workouts, they are learning the basics. We have a couple of people on our Masters team who went straight from the adult swimming lessons to the master's team.
Master's swimming encompasses all levels and abilities. You will be welcomed.
Michael
...be very afraid. "3500" is a little daunting right now, but I want to get up to speed fast. Pardon the pun but I would rather be the little fish in the big pond than the big fish in the little pond. Hopefully Masters swimming would do that for me. I think my pride won't let me relax until I am on par with the others. Thanks for all your advice!
There's an old story about the musician and Carnegie Hall. The musician was asked how he got to Carnegie Hall and responded, "Practice, practice, practice." (No, it's not taking the 6th Avenue Subway to 57th Street!)
Don't worry about how many yards you do. And take heart, the folks doing the 3,500 yard workouts have bad days, too.
Jim sums it up very well with everyone starting as a beginner. No one starts as an expert. (X=unknown quantity; spurt=drip under pressure. :D )
Mark
