Help! I'm going to my first practice ever for a master's swim team on Sunday morning. I've been swimming on my own since March and have worked up to 50 minute sessions-a little over a mile-3 days a week. I've never been coached or trained before, so the whole thing has me pretty intimidated. I've been reading the forum and from what I see, you all seem to recommend team training to improve. I'm over 40, still about 10 pounds heavier than I'd like to be but not in horrible shape. I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to keep up or that people will resent a slow untrained swimmer messing up their practice.
Any advice?
Thanks!!
Julie -- I usually swim on my own. Occasionally (probably 5 times per year) I find myself swimming with some masters team. Each time is like a first time for me.
Some personal observations: Probably most of your current swimming is not "circle swim". You stay in your own lane, or on your own side of your lane, and nobody interferes with you. In most cases masters teams are concentrated into fewer lanes (so as not to monopolize the whole pool) and therefore you will be doing circle swimming. (Always keep to the right, or always keep to the left, as designated that day.)
I suppose I could give a list of circle swim etiquette points, but I'll bet there are some old threads on this board already discussing it.
The point I wanted to make about circle swim is that in your initial plunge with a three or more swimmers in one lane, you will tend to find yourself swimming harder than you normally would. That, in itself is not a problem. You'll do a really vigorous workout. But you may find that you burn yourself out sooner than you want. So just be aware of it. (And maybe it's just something that happens to me and won't happen to you. I just don't want the guy behind me touching my toes. I want to "keep up" and prove that I can swim with these guys.)
You will hear all sorts of workout terminology you may never have heard before. There are usually some local ideosyncrasies at any pool, as well as terms that are common among masters teams but will be foreign to you as a newcomer. My recommendation is to buddy up with someone in your lane. Introduce yourself as the new kid on the block, and let that person know up front that you are unfamiliar with some of the things and would it be OK if you ask them for explanations as you run across them... You will find that people are more than glad to help you out with that. It's one of the charms of masters swimming.
You do not have to do every lap or every set or every drill or every stroke. If they're doing 200s and you are starting to croak, stop at 6 lengths. If they're doing a bunch of butterfly and you're gasping for air, sit out for a 50 or two, or do free. If you are used to doing 2000 total and their workout is 5000, you can get out whenever you want. If you find yourself in a lane of people you THOUGHT were of the same performance level but are leaving you in their wake, it's OK to move to a different/slower lane.
Enjoy!
Hi Julie,
This website has a pretty good run down of pool etiquette:
www.cartegic.com/pooletiquette.htm
This one has a nice list of terminology:
www.brandonbluewave.com/swimterms.html
(Don't get overwhelmed!)
I echo the sentiments of the other posters that you will be fine! Just communicate with your lane mates and don't be afraid to ask questions. I bet many of those swimmer you wanted to ask advice would be happy to offer their expertise!
Good luck!
boy-I hope the people at my pool on sunday are as helpful as you guys have all been. Part of the reason I've gotten up the nerve to do this was from reading the posts on this board and seeing how everyone relates to one another. The websites were very helpful about courtesy and terms. I read another post somewhere that recommended Phil Whitten's book on Swimming-I'm going to Borders on the way home and pick that up. I might be able to find some workouts in there I can use during the week. I don't know that I'll ever "get on the blocks", but I'll be happy if I can lose the last 10 pounds and improve my skill level. Maybe someday I'll learn a flip turn!!
bad topic? The woman that I share the lane with in the morning does them, but I haven't figured them out yet. The only time I tried I ended up just doing a somersault! Then it took me a few minutes to stop laughing at myself before I could swim again.
Honestly, I just want to learn to do more than 2000 meters of freestyle and get in better shape. I don't have any great ambitions to be in races or anything like that.
Quite the contrary, an excellent topic! It's been discussed on this forum at length! Do a search and you will find mounds of offerings.
Let us know about your experience at your masters practice.
Originally posted by aquageek
I can only suggest the following:
1. Eat lots of garlic before practice, improves your swimming.
2. Wear big baggy trunks as that is how most USMS swimmers train between meets.
3. Big, snorkel type goggles are very popular now and most USMS swimmers have adopted them for training and meets.
4. A generous lubing of your head with baby oil is what most people are using instead of swim caps these days.
Have fun, you'll do fine.
Aquageek's facetiousness strikes again!!
I can relate to your story, Julie. I too was a bit nervous meeting my Masters team for the first time. Once you meet your teammates and coaches, your nervousness will disappear.
Like most of us here (Not counting Aquageek's first post) said, you'll meet some of the nicest people in your team who are willing to give you pointers and tips on improving your stroke, and your overall swimming technique. I just started working out with my Masters team for about a week and it's absolutely fun!
Also, don't listen to Aquageek's advice (he's just being facetious and silly) unless you want to look like a dork and have really bad breath on your first practice!! :p
The key here is have a good time on your first workout! ...Trust me, you most certainly will
I can only suggest the following:
1. Eat lots of garlic before practice, improves your swimming.
2. Wear big baggy trunks as that is how most USMS swimmers train between meets.
3. Big, snorkel type goggles are very popular now and most USMS swimmers have adopted them for training and meets.
4. A generous lubing of your head with baby oil is what most people are using instead of swim caps these days.
Have fun, you'll do fine.
