Setting realistic goals

What I'm saying is I don't think you can say "if you follow workout plan x for y amount of time you should drop this % in your time." Everyone is different. some people improve meteorically, others don't. So, I'm not objecting to using a percentage improvement as a goal, I'm just saying I don't think you can easily say someone--a certain individual you know nothing about--should be able to improve by a certain percentage per month.

p.s Newmastersswimmer- yup those are my times from my first meet ever.....this is my bragging so be fore warned if you want to ignore it....which I just found out a few weeks ago that I got first in my breaststroke for my age group, and second in my 200 free . My next meet is in three weeks and I can't wait!! originally posted by Seagurl Wow! Congrats...that's very impressive....I think you will probably see a fairly drastic improvement in your times in this next meet simply because of the experience of competing in a meet....Your still at the beggining of your competitive career....This newness to competition works in your favor when it comes to quick time drops......I think you should go to Texas and swim for a summer....One reason is that you don't swim with an organized team in Idaho....Wait to you get a taste of swimming with other competitive swimmers that have a similar passion for swimming....when you put these two important factors together...the "x"% improvement curve limit Knelson and others have mentioned has much less impact.....I think that the "x% improvement barrier" doesn't really apply (or apply that much lets say) untill after you have experienced a little more in competitive swimming that what you've experienced thus far......(no offense Knelson....maybe your "engineering type" mind is a little too calculating about this one?....It's cool though b/c I know your pulling for her anyway)......Also I think one big advantage for you is your overall passion and desire to improve.....You seem anxious for two a days.....hey your young enough to take it physically so go for the two a days....You seem to have enough drive to hang with that kinda thing.....I, myself, may be a bit too "ripe" for that kinda punishement....we will all be pulling for you though....... Newmastersswimmer Oh yeah....Also I want you to improve so that when I kick your butt someday there won't be any excuses....(j/k of course!)

didn't mention the percent improvement to begin with, and I don't put much credence in it. What do you measure then? If you're trying to predict the future to set realistic time goals you have to measure time. Do you simply state that you want to loose a second a month. That's realistic for a while, but eventually 1 second is going to be a huge amount in relation to the time you're swimming. Anyway, making realistic goals is: knowing the past and working a plan to achieve those goals. Simply stating a time to achieve is fine, but if it isn't based on something you've done in the past is it realistic? A percentage of improvement just gives a person an idea of what they've done. If the person can relate his/her greatest achievements to specific events or regiments then doing them again can be realistic. That's all a percentage of improvement can show. If it's always a fluke or by surprise when a person achieves his/her goals then no goal at all is achievable, and no numbers can predict what will happen.

Isn't that true for pretty much any advise we'd get/give on this board? Short of "get yourself a trainer" and "go see a doctor", no one knows us well enough to give us accurate advise. It's all just a judgment call. ... I'm being a bit of Devil's advocate.

Firstly, thanks everyone for all the helpful hints!! I am a little lost on all the percentage time droppage stuff (math is not my forte, right Jim!?:D ), but that's alright. I have to agree with Ande on this, I think I'm going to stop worrying about what my times are but more about my swimming....if that makes sense. I've been really looking into the Longhorn Master's program, and things are looking good for me to go down to Texas this summer. So hopefully, with good training, coaching, and motivation I'll be able to see some improvement in my swimming overall this summer. Thanks again to everyone for all of you help!!! ~Kyra

i think you should set your goal to improve as much as you possibly can in the 100 *** and the 200 free. Get in a great program swim each day mon - sat do 2 work outs a day at least 3 times a week improve your technique, conditioning, mental expectations and strength. mainly train don't go to many meets swim in maybe 2 (besides your current times don't make the time standards of several meets so masters meets actually might be the best way to go since they don't have time standards) If you put in the work you will swim faster who's to say how much you'll improve I would encourage you to focus on the process of swimming faster and let the result happen as a consequence ande

Hey Kyra, In the way of "it can happen", I've been swimming about a year and a half now and I dropped my 200m free time by almost 10 seconds at a meet yesterday. In my case my pacing had been all wrong, someone looked at my 50m time and my 50m splits in the 200 and told me I was going out way too slow. And they were right! I also took more than two seconds off my 100m fly and my 100m free and more than a second off my 50m fly. The great part is that in each event there were things I know I can do better on with practice. I'm not saying pacing will be the solution in your case but you are also very early on the learning curve and it is quite possible that with hard work and good coaching that you could make sudden dramatic improvements. It sure is a great feeling when you do! Good luck!

What I'm saying is I don't think you can say "if you follow workout plan x for y amount of time you should drop this % in your time." Everyone is different. some people improve meteorically, others don't. So, I'm not objecting to using a percentage improvement as a goal, I'm just saying I don't think you can easily say someone--a certain individual you know nothing about--should be able to improve by a certain percentage per month. originally posted by Knelson Sorry if I implied that you originated the "x% improvement curve" here.......There's nothing wrong with that though since most of us do follow some kind of similar patterns with respect to that (all though it does vary from person to person ...and people work out with different levels of intensity etc....).....I personally am looking for approximately a 3.247% improvement in my 100 butterfly over last season ....although this is just a rough estimate. Newmastersswimmer p.s. I know....what's with all the lame jokes attached to my e-mails?..(try to overlook this small problem if you can?).....It's hard to keep that little nerdie guy that lives inside of me under control sometimes....I didn't ask for him to possess me ...He just showed up one day and I've never been able to get rid of him every since.

Want to improve your times get a coach learn some proper techniques. I was at the pool the other day with a Triathlete, his stroke was terrible 30 minutes later, after a couple of changes he dropped 8 sec from his 100 meter time. George Park www.swimdownhill.com

If you are going to Austin, be prepared to never leave. The city and UT can't be beat, but then again I am a little biased. BTW, good luck with your training, I hope you make the team. Hook'em Blue