I know there is a discussion below about joining a Masters, but my background is different therefor there may be different responses.
To recap...I'm Tory. I'm a big loser. I've lost 100 pounds and have gone from a couch potato to fitness nut. I truly have redefined who I am and how I live my life and I love it!
Anyhow...I am a terrible swimmer. Okay, I'm not REALLY so terrible. I do not drown. That's a good thing. However my swimming lesson experience involves Forest Park Lake and 5th grade. In other words, not a big background. I tried an adult stroke class, but it was taught by a well meaning ADD teenager who mainlined sugar every night before class and spent much more time bouncing around on the pool deck and flirting with the girls, than actually teaching us anything. I spent the entire course just swimming laps.
I just found (as in last week) that there is an adult masters program in a city nearby. I was thrilled! I'm taking a triathlon training course and we've been doing the swim portion. I had my stroke evaluated and yeah, I'm a mess. However, I am working on it. I do know how to swim (or rather "not drown"), I can freestyle and *** but that's the extent. I stroke wide, kick wide, and over-rotate so those are my focii right now. It may not sound like much, but I can swim inefficiently like this for an hour (which is all the time I have), but I feel like I should be able to swim more in an hour than I do.
So...what do you think?
Join a Masters program and join the slow swimmers?
Find a GOOD adult stroke class and improve my stroke, then join a Masters program?
My goal for this year is to concentrate on my swimming. I must improve my stroke because I don't feel confident in the open water during triathlons and I refuse to submit to that fear. I also happen to really enjoy swimming. I love how relaxed I feel an hour after a good long swim and that that feeling lasts the entire day. I like the peace of swimming and being in my mind and letting go my concerns, or having time to chew them over. I actually, of the three sports, like running the best (because I am a glutton for punishment) and then swimming and both for a similar reason; they are great workouts that let me get out alone and just 'be' for awhile.
But I'd like to 'be' faster and more efficient!
Parents
Former Member
Depends on the Masters program. Ours is uncoached so there would be no opportunity for stroke help. The lanes are crowded so you really have to be able to make the workout.
I would go watch and see if you think you can MAKE the workout (or close) in the slowest lane, and see how crowded it is. Talk to the coach and tell him/her your situation and see if you could fit in. If there is plenty of room and the paces vary to your level, it's probably a great opportunity for you. If the paces are FAST and the workout crowded, I don't think it's the right thing and this time, and I'd lean toward a stroke clinic in that case.
Depends on the Masters program. Ours is uncoached so there would be no opportunity for stroke help. The lanes are crowded so you really have to be able to make the workout.
I would go watch and see if you think you can MAKE the workout (or close) in the slowest lane, and see how crowded it is. Talk to the coach and tell him/her your situation and see if you could fit in. If there is plenty of room and the paces vary to your level, it's probably a great opportunity for you. If the paces are FAST and the workout crowded, I don't think it's the right thing and this time, and I'd lean toward a stroke clinic in that case.
