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
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).
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.
In my case, returning after a 36 year break and training about 3.2 times a week, it took 4 years to get to under 3 seconds of my best LCM 50m time (27.8 vs 24.9)
I believe this is mainly due to the time needed to rebuild some upper body strength lost by not swimming at all. (OK, maybe I don't train like a dog either, but rather try for consistency)
Your point on returning in your late 50's is very valid especially for a 100m - I only got to about 7 seconds off my best. It's probably even more valid for the 200 and up, but that's long distance stuff I don't worry about (too much training required)
No 'reborn swimmer' should get discouraged if they don't hit times close to their best in mere months - depending on age, technical ability and training intensity, your mileage will vary.
Ian.
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).
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.
In my case, returning after a 36 year break and training about 3.2 times a week, it took 4 years to get to under 3 seconds of my best LCM 50m time (27.8 vs 24.9)
I believe this is mainly due to the time needed to rebuild some upper body strength lost by not swimming at all. (OK, maybe I don't train like a dog either, but rather try for consistency)
Your point on returning in your late 50's is very valid especially for a 100m - I only got to about 7 seconds off my best. It's probably even more valid for the 200 and up, but that's long distance stuff I don't worry about (too much training required)
No 'reborn swimmer' should get discouraged if they don't hit times close to their best in mere months - depending on age, technical ability and training intensity, your mileage will vary.
Ian.
