I am a track and field sprinter (100m-400m) and looking for some cross training. I started swimming because we have a pool where I work and I was nursing back spasms and achilies tendonitis from running. I found out about local swim meets and thought it would be fun to try. I love to compete.
It was a blast. It was very similar to a track meet so I was comfortable in that regard, but nervous because I have never raced in a pool.
I only know freestyle. Did the 100m free in 70 seconds (three bad turns) and the 50m free in 30 seconds (one bad turn). I have no clue how to do the flip turns and it showed. I will definately need to practice that.
I found it hard to warm up properly and got cold waiting for my events. Will need to pack very warm clothes next time.
People that don't look very fast out of the water.... are very fast in the water.
People at swim meets couldn't be more friendly and helpful. I got alot of good advice.
Will practice the turns and hopefully get down to a 27 and a 60 for the next meet. If I can improve alot, I may focus on swim training and run secondary.
I will probably post again asking when to initiate the flip turn. I need to learn what to key on visually as I approach. This was my big problem. I had no spacial awareness and vision.
Very quick freestyle turn lesson:
The markings on the bottom of the pool and on the wall help you gauge when to do the flip turns. Ideally, you should start turning when your head gets just above the "T" at the bottom, and your feet should hit the wall with knees bent between 90 and 100 degrees.
Talk to your coach about turns. You'll need to work on it every day. Any coach worth his/her salt should have good drills for working on turns. Unfortunately, most masters teams try too hard to get lots of yardage in that they neglect what my age group coach used to call the "fundamentals": starts, turns and technique.
I don't have a coach so I am teaching myself. I am watching video clips. I agree that most people seem to like distance swimming, which is not for me. I like explosive events.
When you gauge yourself off the tee, do you take a look up at the wall just prior to initiating the turn to make any corrections or do you do it blind?
Also, I noticed the lane markers change color prior to the wall. Do you count strokes into the wall, or is that more inaccurate than the tee?
Also it looks like the preffered technique is to flip first, then rotate on the push off. I was trying both flip and rotate prior to the push off. I think this is where I went wrong.
Your times are awesome! I started masters swimming last year and I can't come ANYWHERE NEAR your times, not unless I get myself an outboard motor. ;)
Like you, I also enjoy running--which is my main sport, but I'm slow at that too, lol!--but I had heard about a masters' group forming at my Y and was curious, so I joined. Really have enjoyed the process and pushing myself. I tried a couple meets last year (Senior Games, since I'm "of age" at 55, and an open meet). I was beaten in the 100 free by a woman over 20 years my senior, so I have reason to be humble. But it was even so a great experience--as you mention, swimmers are very helpful to newcomers.
I improve, then fall back, then improve some more, but really bottom line is it's a great workout, and it's helped my running as well! I recover faster from long runs and track workouts than I did before. What's not to love!
I should mention I am a 41 year old male.
IMO The older a person is, the more impressive it is. I run with a 56 year old that is up my tail in the 1/4.
Wow!!....those are really fast times for a begginer!....congrats rtodd!.....If you had started out as a swimmer (in stead of running track) you might have become an Olympian by now (who knows??)....Anyway, you're already faster than many masters swimmers who have been swimming for years (and probably faster already than one "late bloomer" in particular that comes to mind.....LOL!!)
only know freestyle. Did the 100m free in 70 seconds (three bad turns) and the 50m free in 30 seconds (one bad turn). I have no clue how to do the flip turns and it showed. I will definately need to practice that.
originally posted by rtodd
I agree wholeheartedly with your obervations. I have just started swimming competitively this past year as well, in the Ladies 45 to 49. It is a lifelong dream come true. I grew up in rural Maine on a lake and while I swam from Spring ( we used to push the ice flows out of the way) through Fall, there were no swim teams in our area.
Flash forward 4o some years and while swimming laps with my husband and daughter one morning at the Y, I was approached as to whether I wanted to join the Masters team. Just the mention of it had me giddy! That was a year ago and since then I have entered quite a few races. My first race I didnt know how to go off the blocks, the timing of the start or how to do flip turns either. My first start everyone else dove in and I stood there like a deer in headlights. Later someone told me they were about to push me when I dove! But everyone has always been kind, helpful and encouraging, and I do the same everytime I hear someone say they are new to competing.
This year my goal was to go off the blocks, done, do flip turns in meets, done - although doing more than a couple makes me quite disoriented, and learning new strokes, done. You definetly need to try new strokes, I find I actually place better in *** and butterfly (knock on wood) than I do free. My biggest thrill was winning a pentathlon this past winter -okay the field was pretty small, but I cherish the win none the less.
I hope you come to love this sport as much as I do. There is always something to learn - to practice - to refine, I just wish I had more time in my week. I ask alot of questions but everyone is very supportive. And there are plenty of resources on line.
P.S. I was an avid runner (sprints and 10k's) from my teens through my 30's but the toll on my knees was too great. Your body will appreciate swimming. :D
Oops, I mean yards!!! this meet was yards. I am used to everything in meters.
You have a point, I should not concern myself too much with times. It is true that my primary goal is to stay fit. I am fairly competative though in a good natured way and like to see where I fit in.
I have been running track for years and as a master (40 and over) I have only achieved only so-so times compared to the fastest. Last year I could not get nationally ranked in the 100, 200 or 400, which bothered me a little because I trained so hard. I thought I would make a switch to swimming (mainly to rest my lower back) and I am thinking maybe I can be a better swimmer than runner.
Originally posted by rtodd
I would think that as a 41 yr old, a good performance would be under 25 in the 50 and under 55 in the 100.
In the last 25m Nationals (2002) the winning time in the M40-44 50m was 25.16 and 56.10 won the 100m.
The USMS results database shows two swimmers under 25s in the 50m event in 2005. Likewise there are two swimmers under 55s in the 100m free.
You are certainly setting a high standard! Any chance that you are basing your standards on yards times (aka 45.72m and 91.44m times) instead of meters times?
