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?
Maybe sprinters will disagree, but I don't think it's all that difficult to get within a second of your best 50 time and maybe 2-3 of your 100 with a few months of consistent, hard training (at least three days and probably four days a week). Anything 200 and up will take a much more concerted effort. Anyway, this has been my experience, but I was and am not a sprinter, so maybe my times 50 and 100 times are easier to get back to than people who actually excel at these events!
I returned to swimming after ten years off at age 32. It would obviously be more difficult if you returned to the sport in your 40s or 50s.
I think this comment is generally correct for sprinters, although perhaps a little ambitious for most. Unlike Jon, I'm not quite back to within 1 second of my 50s and 2-3 of my 100s. I returned to swimming at almost 44. Within 3 months, I had good sprints. I just had to worry about keeping my goggles on. In ten months, I was less than 2 seconds off on my 50s, but I'm still a bit off in my 100s. I'm not sure I'll ever get within 3 seconds. Seems highly doubtful without more training. There is no way I would be even remotedly near any 200+ times. And for me over-training does nothing but cause injuries; my shoulder refuses to adjust to increased training. As Jon says, treachery plus technique yields the most bang for your buck.
Maybe sprinters will disagree, but I don't think it's all that difficult to get within a second of your best 50 time and maybe 2-3 of your 100 with a few months of consistent, hard training (at least three days and probably four days a week). Anything 200 and up will take a much more concerted effort. Anyway, this has been my experience, but I was and am not a sprinter, so maybe my times 50 and 100 times are easier to get back to than people who actually excel at these events!
I returned to swimming after ten years off at age 32. It would obviously be more difficult if you returned to the sport in your 40s or 50s.
I think this comment is generally correct for sprinters, although perhaps a little ambitious for most. Unlike Jon, I'm not quite back to within 1 second of my 50s and 2-3 of my 100s. I returned to swimming at almost 44. Within 3 months, I had good sprints. I just had to worry about keeping my goggles on. In ten months, I was less than 2 seconds off on my 50s, but I'm still a bit off in my 100s. I'm not sure I'll ever get within 3 seconds. Seems highly doubtful without more training. There is no way I would be even remotedly near any 200+ times. And for me over-training does nothing but cause injuries; my shoulder refuses to adjust to increased training. As Jon says, treachery plus technique yields the most bang for your buck.
