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.
Former Member
Why concern yourself with times the secret is to swim as fast as you can so what if there are faster swimmers.
Yes, the meets give a reason to train, and they recharge your batteries when you see like minded others at the meets.
It really does come down to training time. I am currently swimming two times a week. I haven't totally given up on running so I am still trying to get to the track 2 times a week (down from 4 times a week). This will let me swim 3 times a week through the summer. I really hate to turn my back on the running, but for my back's sake.
Will just see where it all goes. Hopefully I have a good progression. there is a meet at the end of the month. Hopefully I get the turns figured out. Made some progress on that this week.
How often do you train and for what distance? Do you lift?
Originally posted by rtodd
That wasn't you...was it?
I am far from the fastest swimmer around but I still enter meets to test my training and to give me reason to continue training.
I am only 31 with 50 and 100 yard times of 28 and 64, respectively. I am faster than some but slower than others. No biggie. Those who are faster than me put in a lot more training time and they deserve the times they have achieved.
Thanks for the kind remarks, but I really did not see me times as being fast. In the 50, quite a few swimmers over 40 swam 26 and under and a 30 year old swam a 23.3.
In the 100, there was a 36 yr old who went under 50. Let's ignore that for a moment. There were alot of others over 40 who went under 60.
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. I was hoping to be around a 27 and a 60. I think 60% of my problem is from poor turning, 15% poor swim technique, and 25% conditioning.
Question on kicking.
I noticed that if I do kick sets with a board, my kick mechanics for maximum thrust are different from my kick mechanics when doing fast free intervals. I use more knee bend in the kickboard sets. My free kick is with less knee bend, and more hip flexor. Should I try to mimic my kickboard form in the free? Should the mechanics be the same?
No lifting for me. I swim about 4 times a week and I typically cover about 1500 yards per practice. I am limited to about 30-45 minutes so I tend to focus on swimming at or near race pace once I am warmed up. I don't usually swim more than a 100 aside from warmup where I might swim a slow 200.
I think you will find that the faster swimmers are training well over 2000 yards per practice and most likely at least 4 times a week. It takes time and dedication. I have a fair amount of dedication but my time is limited. Just the same...I enjoy myself and it keeps me healthy and fit.
Damn, you are fast! I hope to be that fast. ...not quite there yet! Tomorrow I'm attending my second swim meet and I'm very excited that I'm going!!!
Gotta love swim meets! YAY SWIM MEETS!!
Wait, does that mean that those times aren't good unless you're over 40? I just enetered my first meet ever, feeling ok about my times. Until I realized that all the people who were slower than I was were over 45 (I'm still in my 20s), and actually, most of them were over 60. Oh well, I'm sure I'll still have fun and will learn a lot. And at least I know there's a lot of room for improvement!
What are the events in a pentathalon? Is it swimming, shooting, fencing, running, and horseback riding? Or am I thinking of a different sport? If so, that is REALLY REALLY COOL.
Take pride in any time! I am glad you had such a pleasant first expereince.I dont race others as much as my own times and my own goals.
No, the pentathlon I was in was a spirit pentathlon, 50 Free, 50 Fly, 50 Back 50 *** and then 100 IM.They gave out places for each race and then combined the times for the overall winner. They also had Middle and Ironman. It was incredibly fun, SCARY though, never having swum those others strokes. But again almost everyone at meets are so encouraging, and they mostly say the same thing, JUST HAVE FUN! Kinda the swimming version of Nike's JUST DO IT! My team hoots and hollers for each other each heat, and if we dont have someone in a heat we cheer for someone else. We aren't the biggest or the fastest team, but we have a great time! I hope you find such a team. Try not to get caught up in the age thing, if you keep swimming you'll eventually be in each age group, and THAT will be the best thing!;)
