With all the super fast times being slung around on this board, I have to wonder how long it took people to get there.
If you are a reborn swimmer, how long did it take you to get close (within say 5 seconds on a 100, 2-3 seconds on a 50) to your previous best times?
Did it take two a day or 2 hour a day swimming to get close to college/age group times again? Or is it just a matter of remembering how to swim fast and being dedicated with the time you do have?
Any advice for those re-joining the swimming ranks and are excited to compete but still stuck waaay behind former best times (like 20 seconds in a 100 and 8 seconds in a 50) and getting depressed coming in last in their age group?
Parents
Former Member
I came back after an 18 year layoff a few years ago....but I haven't been all that consistent about my working out since then. I also allowed myself to get very fat. So according to what Paul and others posted, I might not get back to within a few seconds or so of my best 100 times?....and there is a good chance that I won't I suppose. I did get within about 6 seconds of my best 100 fly time....and within about 15 seconds of my best 200 fly time after 1 year of training fairly consistently when I first came back. I also lost over 80 pounds during that first year of training as well. I hope I can get back into a consistent training routine again....and that I can lose a lot of weight again because I want to get much closer to my best times than I have so far. Its hard to say whether or not I will actually be able to do that though. I certainly wish tthe best for all the other Masters swimmers who are coming back from long layoffs.....You never know what you might be able to accomplish....I would think patience is an important part of it....Don't make the mistake I made about a year ago or so when I tried to do too much by working out 5-6 days a week for 7000 yards or so a practice.....I think it would be better to ease your way back into it over time....but thats my opinion only and I haven't done much yet since coming back.
Newmastersswimmer
I came back after an 18 year layoff a few years ago....but I haven't been all that consistent about my working out since then. I also allowed myself to get very fat. So according to what Paul and others posted, I might not get back to within a few seconds or so of my best 100 times?....and there is a good chance that I won't I suppose. I did get within about 6 seconds of my best 100 fly time....and within about 15 seconds of my best 200 fly time after 1 year of training fairly consistently when I first came back. I also lost over 80 pounds during that first year of training as well. I hope I can get back into a consistent training routine again....and that I can lose a lot of weight again because I want to get much closer to my best times than I have so far. Its hard to say whether or not I will actually be able to do that though. I certainly wish tthe best for all the other Masters swimmers who are coming back from long layoffs.....You never know what you might be able to accomplish....I would think patience is an important part of it....Don't make the mistake I made about a year ago or so when I tried to do too much by working out 5-6 days a week for 7000 yards or so a practice.....I think it would be better to ease your way back into it over time....but thats my opinion only and I haven't done much yet since coming back.
Newmastersswimmer
