Setting realistic goals

Is it realistic to hope to drop 2 seconds a week? I found out that I need to drop about 20 seconds this summer. Any ideas on things other than swimming that will help make me faster i.e. weights, cross-training, etc. I'm joining a team so I know that once my technique is fixed that will also help, but I need to do everything possible. Thanx a bundle!!

What distance would you be swimming. 20 seconds improvement might be realistic for the longer distances - it would be impossible in a 50.

100 Free: 56.5 200 Free 2:01.0 100 *** 1:11.00 That's where I want to be....Here's where I am 100 Free 1:14 200 Free (SCM) 2:58 (yea that probably won't happen) 100 *** 1:35 *all times SCY except where noted I know that on paper that looks impossible, and in theory it kinda does too. But I really, REALLY want this too happen. I'm hoping that I can gain some speed through passion too. I'm thinking that I may drop the 200 free as one of my focus events, and switch too the 100 *** and the 100 free.

All you can do is 1) get in a great program 2) perfect your technique and train as hard as you can in each practice and 3) let your times be what they are use several swim faster faster ideas like Perfect your technique and Act as if / last battle on earth good luck, Ande Originally posted by Seagurl51 Is it realistic to hope to drop 2 seconds a week? I found out that I need to drop about 20 seconds this summer. Any ideas on things other than swimming that will help make me faster i.e. weights, cross-training, etc. I'm joining a team so I know that once my technique is fixed that will also help, but I need to do everything possible. Thanx a bundle!!

I think that it is important to maintain a positive attitude but at some point you have to be realistic in your goal setting. I think that if you can go from 1:14 to under 1:10 that would be a huge step and a great improvement. So I would suggest setting "baby goals" for yourself. For instance I would say start with 1:10 for the 100 and then work from there. I would worry that you are going to get too discouraged if you make your goals too lofty... I started Masters swimming 5 years ago. My time in the 100 was 1:02 after one month of training. I wanted to break a minute at SC Nationals that year. After 4 months of training I went 59.2. Two years after that I went 57.4. I that two year interim I incorporated weights and running into my regimen and increased my yardage. Now three years later I am at 56.4. In this three year period I have changed my stroke (still far from perfect) and added yoga and Pilates to my routine. So you see how long and how much work it has taken me to get to the 56. So just keep at it. Your enthusiasm will take you far...

Don't forget Kira is already in Walnut Creek. Come on over Keorge! Sleepover, my house Aug 2006 or so I've been told :) My husband pulled out the globe last night and put his finger on California. Then he put his other finger on the exact opposite side. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I don't know where this is and I don't care, but it's the farthest I can get away if all of them are coming here!" He thinks were nuts- and for once he's right. DOH :)

Originally posted by SwiminONandON I think you can ... hmmm ... I think you just have to compete against me! I'll investigate, but I am thinking you can... No I don't think that she can. I think that it's a FINA thing. I looked at last year's results and the youngest age group is 25-29. Also all of the world rankings begin at age 25...

Kyra, Nothing is impossible. Impossible is nothing. -Adidas, I think. Do you have previous swimming experience, as a kid? I know when I learned how to swim when I was 9 I loved to go to meets. My mom would take me every weekend! I dropped my times at every meet. My meet times motivated me to practice harder. I dropped times regularly until I was about 15- then I was at a very high senior level (with several Olympians) and it wasn't fun anymore- I quit and swam summer rec! One of the best things you can learn to do is pace yourself. Know what a 50 feels like at 80%, 90% etc. Learn to use the clock so you know that a 35. felt like 80%, so 33 felt like 90% etc. (Sorry, there's those percents again!) I know that when I swim the mile (once a year!) I have to know my 100 splits. If I can't see the clock I have someone tell me while I'm swimming. After my race my 100's are all usually with a few tenths of each other (sometimes exactly the same or within a few hundredths). Try to get to the point where you sprint a 25 or a 50 on a coach's watch and you tell them what the time is. If you can do that you are definitely in tune with your swimming. You know, you could come out here with Heather and give Walnut Creek Masters a try. Kerry is amazing! :)

Why be realistic!!! Can I become a good swimmer? I have been asked this question by many swimmers and tri guys. I always give the same answer. Bill Yorzyk was an almost none swimmer before going to college and within a couple of years swam for the US Olmypic team and won the only gold medal for the USA in the 56 Olympics. Story here www.ishof.org/71wyorzyk.html Another friend of mine Jack Nelson from Florida could not swim when he was 23 and he came 4th in those same Olympics. Jacks story www.ishof.org/94jnelson.html George www.swimdownhill.com

Those are neat stories George. Thanx for sharing them. Thanks everyone else for the advice. I'll keep you posted on my progress. ~Kyra p.s. Karen...I love that idea!