Swimming as cross training

The best most general advice is to join a club or group with a good coach. Swimming is much more technique oriented than running and time invested early in developing good technique will pay off big time in speed and injury avoidance. A good coach will help a lot.

You already have one sign you have the makings of a real swimmer,you refered to your workout distance by yards(meters) instead of laps.

I used to train Standard bred race horse. It took 6 to 8 weeks of conditioning before we ever thought of working them hard. It took another 6 to 8 weeks to get them back to racing after a couple of month lay off. Don't rush but get the distance in and get up to speed. If you have been running you should be ready to get your distance up quickly. Larap you sound as if you are fit so go with it. To LindsayNB I still hate master coaches in general. George

Originally posted by Laurap I've sent an email to the contact person for the Glenwood Springs (Colorado) masters swimming group to see what they are all about and how I might fit in with what they do. I hope they don't swim in the pool fed by the hot springs! :D

Originally posted by Laurap I appreciate what you all have written. I've sent an email to the contact person for the Glenwood Springs (Colorado) masters swimming group to see what they are all about and how I might fit in with what they do. I am not approaching this as if I want to swim competitively, and so not sure if I am someone they want in the group...? Would like some stroke clinics or something, though. How in the world do you all remember 100x2 of this and 600x3 of that and on and on as I've seen in the workout postings? Thanks again - Laura When doing multiples of something, I use my water bottle and move it across the tiles on the pool to keep track. Using the clock helps too, but by the end of something hard I am brain dead and can hardly remember where I started, so the water bottle helps. You are not out of your league here. I started swimming 5 years ago at age 38 and could only do about 50 yards at a time. To increment, I suggest adding 100-200 yards each week to your work-outs. That is a doable and not painful to think about amount. I do that in the winter starting in December with 2500 yards and am able to get up to get up to close to 4000 yards by February.

Originally posted by knelson I hope they don't swim in the pool fed by the hot springs! :D Well, up until just a few months ago they did, I believe! Now there is a new community center with an 8 lap lane 25 meter pool indoors. Very very nice. I'm retired so have the privilege of using it during off hours and sometimes I am the only one in the pool! But many triathletes around here train in the hot springs pool year 'round. Not me. Smelling like chlorine is one thing - sulphur is another.

Originally posted by geochuck To LindsayNB I still hate master coaches in general. Hi George, I only have experience with a couple masters coaches but I stand by my advice to find a program with a good coach. (Emphasis added.) If one can also work one on one with a good coach even better. What are your gripes with masters coaches in general?

Dorothy - how long are you in the pool when you are able to swim 4,000 yds?

I appreciate what you all have written. I've sent an email to the contact person for the Glenwood Springs (Colorado) masters swimming group to see what they are all about and how I might fit in with what they do. I am not approaching this as if I want to swim competitively, and so not sure if I am someone they want in the group...? Would like some stroke clinics or something, though. How in the world do you all remember 100x2 of this and 600x3 of that and on and on as I've seen in the workout postings? Thanks again - Laura

Originally posted by LindsayNB Hi George, I only have experience with a couple masters coaches but I stand by my advice to find a program with a good coach. (Emphasis added.) If one can also work one on one with a good coach even better. What are your gripes with masters coaches in general? I also advise to join a master club, where else can people who need the basics going to get advice, work outs etc. My experience with coaches, even some of the top coaches in the world. In 1952 I had Mono but the coach who took over coaching at my club wanted me to train as if nothing was wrong. No more coaching by others from then on, except when competeting for Canada in international events.1954 The Empire games coach tried to load me with work that I could not handle. In 1955 the coach for the Pan Am games followed my advise and let me work out my own program. Same coach for 56 no problem. 1958 Empire Games would not listen to me and tried his best to do me in. I then switched to watchers and or buddies to check on my safety for open water training. All of the master coaches I know seem to want me to follow their plan, Varied strokes I don't swim backstroke or breaststroke any more, they want me to follow their planned work out which includes these two strokes. I don't use fins, paddles or floats they want every one to use these. The other day one of the master coaches came up to me and told me I had to change my right hand , she said I had a cross over. My right hand does what is necessary to prevent shoulder injury. When you have a shoulder inury you have to modify, modify. I go to a master club twice a week I swim their workout but actually do my planned workout. If it goes too crazy I swim in the public lane and do my own thing, which is nearly always. George