I am new to this forum and looking for some advice/help.
I have been away from competitive swimming for almost 10 years now. I haven't even been in a pool for lap swim due to the fact that I was in a very rural area of VT with no pool access. Now that I am back home in Buffalo with a LMSC, I would like to return back to competition. I recently discovered USMS after some Internet browsing and was immediately intrigued. I never knew this organization existed. After scanning through the website and forum, it got my competitive juices flowing again. I was a competitive swimmer from a little tyke to college and am very excited and motivated to get back in the pool.
I am looking for some tips and ideas for returning to competitive form. I was a butterflyer and have some shoulder issues. I want to ease back into it without getting hurt. I am looking for some exercises to help strengthen my shoulders before pushing myself too much.
I would appreciate any diet/nutrition advice. I kind of let myself go the last couple of years.
Also, I will be in a location with no LMSC but access to a pool for about 5 months and am looking for workouts that I can do.
Any help you could give me would be outstanding. Thanks!!!!
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Former Member
Hi! On the workout end of all of this- take a peek at the Workout portion of discussion board - I have to practice a lot by myself and I usually visit Lia Oberstar's workouts (at the top of the page) - it's great!
As for your shoulder - I am in the same boat as you and I have to be very careful. When I feel that my shoulder is starting to get irritated, I switch to another stroke or do drill. The Doc who did my surgery says the best way to try and avoid further injury is to work on PERFECT strokes. I started Masters about 5 years after my surgery - and I'm doing quite well... my times are not that close to what I did in HS/college, but I will do my best to get as close as I can. There are Masters swimmers who get LIFETIME bests, and others who can't get as fast as they used to be... but swimming with USMS has been the best part of my swimming career, I'd have to say. These are people who truly LOVE the sport and want to have fun as well as work hard. It's great. The meets are a blast... go and do your best and ENJOY IT - you will be in good company - it's always a good time! Your first meet will show you what you need to work on and give you some goal times for your next meet!
Anyways, start slow - working on your stroke. You can start with a mile (or whatever) and go from there. Swimming has always been like riding a bike to me... when I jumped in after my hiatus, you really don't forget that stuff... but you can always find things to fix (meaning your technique).
Good luck!:wave:
Hi! On the workout end of all of this- take a peek at the Workout portion of discussion board - I have to practice a lot by myself and I usually visit Lia Oberstar's workouts (at the top of the page) - it's great!
As for your shoulder - I am in the same boat as you and I have to be very careful. When I feel that my shoulder is starting to get irritated, I switch to another stroke or do drill. The Doc who did my surgery says the best way to try and avoid further injury is to work on PERFECT strokes. I started Masters about 5 years after my surgery - and I'm doing quite well... my times are not that close to what I did in HS/college, but I will do my best to get as close as I can. There are Masters swimmers who get LIFETIME bests, and others who can't get as fast as they used to be... but swimming with USMS has been the best part of my swimming career, I'd have to say. These are people who truly LOVE the sport and want to have fun as well as work hard. It's great. The meets are a blast... go and do your best and ENJOY IT - you will be in good company - it's always a good time! Your first meet will show you what you need to work on and give you some goal times for your next meet!
Anyways, start slow - working on your stroke. You can start with a mile (or whatever) and go from there. Swimming has always been like riding a bike to me... when I jumped in after my hiatus, you really don't forget that stuff... but you can always find things to fix (meaning your technique).
Good luck!:wave:
