I am looking to begin swimming again. I would also like to compete. There is a group near me with times I can go, I just need to get in there. I swam competively for 3 years in HS, and haven't since. I also taught swimming lessons, and lifeguarded for 4 years. My HS swimming was cut short by a pregnancy in the beginning of my senior year, or I probably would have swam at college as well... I used to be pretty good, and really enjoyed all aspects of swimming. Any tips for a "newbie"? TIA!
Parents
Former Member
Wendy,
I most strongly recommend joining a masters team or a congenial workout group as soon as possible. Even though you are there for the conditioning, which you could do on your own theoretically, the friendship will keep you coming back.
Some people feel like they have to lose a few pounds, or get back to some level of conditioning from their (perhaps mythic) past. This is a fallacy that will kill your workout program. First, it's wrong. Unless you are unusually motivated, you will probably get bored on your own before you reach your goal. It can become an obstacle to you objective of sustained group workouts. Second, it's misguided. The people on the team you would join, they don't know how good or how thin you used to be. Show up today, or 6 months from now; you will still be Wendy to them. What they WILL notice, however, is if you show up today, just the way you are, and you drop 20 pounds or 20 seconds right before their eyes in the next 6 months.
Trust me on this one, you want a posse of your swimming buds as soon as possible. I noticed we do have a team listed at the Middle School in Avon, IN www.usms.org/.../placswimform.php Besides, Long Course Nationals are coming to your neck of the woods (Indiannapolis) next April. The younger age groups are thinnly contested, could be your big chance to score at Nationals...
Matt
Wendy,
I most strongly recommend joining a masters team or a congenial workout group as soon as possible. Even though you are there for the conditioning, which you could do on your own theoretically, the friendship will keep you coming back.
Some people feel like they have to lose a few pounds, or get back to some level of conditioning from their (perhaps mythic) past. This is a fallacy that will kill your workout program. First, it's wrong. Unless you are unusually motivated, you will probably get bored on your own before you reach your goal. It can become an obstacle to you objective of sustained group workouts. Second, it's misguided. The people on the team you would join, they don't know how good or how thin you used to be. Show up today, or 6 months from now; you will still be Wendy to them. What they WILL notice, however, is if you show up today, just the way you are, and you drop 20 pounds or 20 seconds right before their eyes in the next 6 months.
Trust me on this one, you want a posse of your swimming buds as soon as possible. I noticed we do have a team listed at the Middle School in Avon, IN www.usms.org/.../placswimform.php Besides, Long Course Nationals are coming to your neck of the woods (Indiannapolis) next April. The younger age groups are thinnly contested, could be your big chance to score at Nationals...
Matt
