I swam competitvely as a kid about ten years ago, and I'm getting back into swimming now in order to get in shape. I'm 22. Hopefully I'll eventually be able to compete again, but it's probably going to be a long time until I'm fit enough for it.
Anyone have any tips for getting started again?
You have the skills from when you were a kid, they are just rusty. You are still very young and at a point where your body will bounce back into training fairly easy. Now you just have to get in the pool and do it.
My suggestion is to start easy. Low yardage, not a lot of sprinting, work on remember a good stroke, feeling the water, and endurance. Each week add 100 yards to your work-out, and try to work-out 3-4 times per week.
In about a month do a timed distance swim as a benchmark. Do that timed swim every month at the same time during the month. This will mark your endurance progress. Once your endurance is up, start adding in some sprint work for 1 to 2 work-outs a week. Intervals really add to a persons fitness level.
By all means enter a meet this fall or winter. You may not feel ready, but again, it is a time to give yourself benchmark times. There are all kinds of speeds at meet. Don't wait until you are "fast" enough. Also, remember, it may take time to get back to your childhood times, although at the age you quit, and the age you are now, you might surpass them quickly.
I am a big proponent of cross training. weight training may not seem important now, but as you age, having those muscles becomes more and more important. You are not looking for huge body builder muscles, but the type that will support your bones and tendons and prevent injuries. Also, flexibility training, and other forms of cardio when there just is not time to get in the pool, which happens when you are an adult swimmer.
I use the work-out forum a lot for work-out ideas to keep my training from getting stale. If you have a Masters team with a coach near you, join it. That helps the boredom as well.
Good luck, and have fun.
You have the skills from when you were a kid, they are just rusty. You are still very young and at a point where your body will bounce back into training fairly easy. Now you just have to get in the pool and do it.
My suggestion is to start easy. Low yardage, not a lot of sprinting, work on remember a good stroke, feeling the water, and endurance. Each week add 100 yards to your work-out, and try to work-out 3-4 times per week.
In about a month do a timed distance swim as a benchmark. Do that timed swim every month at the same time during the month. This will mark your endurance progress. Once your endurance is up, start adding in some sprint work for 1 to 2 work-outs a week. Intervals really add to a persons fitness level.
By all means enter a meet this fall or winter. You may not feel ready, but again, it is a time to give yourself benchmark times. There are all kinds of speeds at meet. Don't wait until you are "fast" enough. Also, remember, it may take time to get back to your childhood times, although at the age you quit, and the age you are now, you might surpass them quickly.
I am a big proponent of cross training. weight training may not seem important now, but as you age, having those muscles becomes more and more important. You are not looking for huge body builder muscles, but the type that will support your bones and tendons and prevent injuries. Also, flexibility training, and other forms of cardio when there just is not time to get in the pool, which happens when you are an adult swimmer.
I use the work-out forum a lot for work-out ideas to keep my training from getting stale. If you have a Masters team with a coach near you, join it. That helps the boredom as well.
Good luck, and have fun.
