and I wanted to ask a few questions.
I got into this in September (yep, three months ago) because I was interested in losing weight as well as learning a bit of what my son (who is on a club team) goes through. I've always loved swimming. I honestly had no intention of competing and I still feel kind of... unsure about it. I'm not the fastest, I certainly don't have a ton of endurance.
So, I guess I'm asking, if you started late (and judging from what I've read here, I am) when do you break through? During practice, quite often, I feel as though if I'm asked to swim another lap, I might go crazy. And I feel like I don't belong there. There are other people on the team that I just :notworthy: to because they rock.
I've been telling myself that even if I feel like I can't go another yard, push myself to keep going. But the other part of me just says, heck no! I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. It's like the good angel, bad angel. Although, the good angel is winning lately.
Suggestions to get past that mental block I seem to have? It would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
Lisa
Former Member
If you're new to swimming in a club, you want to make sure you are in a lane appropriate for your speed. I've found that a lot of newer swimmers get into a lane that is too fast (especially men...go figure) for them, so they end up primarily working anaerobically, fatiguing early, have to sit out sets and hit the wall too early. In addition, the shoulders will start to bother you if you are trying to keep up in a lane that is too fast.
Slow it down, work on body position and technique, ask the coach to watch you do a lap and give feedback, enjoy the process and improvement will happen. Each time you get in the water, say to yourself: today, I'm going to work on _________.
For me(starting at age 39), break throughs came in spurts. I remember the first real breakthrough was about 8 months into swimming and it really was more of a mental, yes I can moment. Other breakthroughs took time, learning flip turns, about a year, learning backstroke flip turns about 2 years, learning fly.....still working on it. Learning to race something without holding back....still working on it. For me, I worked on things pieces at a time. With the backstroke turn, I tried and tried, and just ended up swallowing water. Had one coach berate me for not doing the turns, for opening them up. I finally told her I would learn them when I was good and ready to, and not before, and I have.
About competing. If you really truly want to understand your age grouper, compete at least once. I often hear parents at a meet sit and wonder why their child cannot do well on back to back events, after all, they swim yards more in practice, how can they possibly be tired. By competing you feel in your body the jelliness of your muscles, and why a quick turnover can be so hard.
Plus, meets are fun, and it does not matter your speed, your ability to start, your ability to turn.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Today we did a T-30 (well, a T-20) and I was amazed that I swam 32 laps in 20 minutes. That's a lot for me and I didn't really stop. I just kept plodding along, lol. So, I feel pretty good today. My husband says he expects me to pass out around noon. Little does he know I'm dragging him to Home Despot (yes, I know it's spelled wrong) to look at paint samples.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Today we did a T-30 (well, a T-20) and I was amazed that I swam 32 laps in 20 minutes. That's a lot for me and I didn't really stop. I just kept plodding along, lol. So, I feel pretty good today. My husband says he expects me to pass out around noon. Little does he know I'm dragging him to Home Despot (yes, I know it's spelled wrong) to look at paint samples.
Are you going to give hima T-3months to paint the house? :p
