Hey guys I am new here. I have been swimming with a group that is chill, the coach is cool and supportive. I have no formal experience with swimming other than what I have done on my own for triathlons and swimming with this group has sparked an interest in competative swimming. I am moving to West Palm Beach in June and wanting to join a masters team. Any recommendations, advice, warnings?
Thanks
TN
I had exactly the same concerns before I joined a masters team, back in 1998. I had been swimming on my own for years, but the thought of joining a team gave me the same feelings, I couldn't keep up, do the distance, etc. I had never swam with an organized swim team before I started masters swimming.
When I finally joined the team (my first masters team was the U of A team in Tucson), I was shocked at the different levels of swimmers represented. I wasn't in the slowest lane, but started very conservatively. Within 3-4 months, I had moved up 2-3 lanes.
What drives me today is the whole team environment. Not just the coach giving the workout (we have several coaches who vary from giving the workout and taking a chair to one who harps over you at each set to make intervals), but the other swimmers in my lane or nearby lanes. When I miss a day (it happens once in a while), someone will tell me how I missed quite a set. There are official team events, but also some get together for a quick visit to Starbucks after our morning workouts.
I think the title, "Masters Swimming," creates a misconception to swimmers out there who think they have to be at a collegiate or some sort of level to join. Even now I'll get questions/comments at work or elsewhere and people are amazed at the different levels of swimming represented on my team.
I had exactly the same concerns before I joined a masters team, back in 1998. I had been swimming on my own for years, but the thought of joining a team gave me the same feelings, I couldn't keep up, do the distance, etc. I had never swam with an organized swim team before I started masters swimming.
When I finally joined the team (my first masters team was the U of A team in Tucson), I was shocked at the different levels of swimmers represented. I wasn't in the slowest lane, but started very conservatively. Within 3-4 months, I had moved up 2-3 lanes.
What drives me today is the whole team environment. Not just the coach giving the workout (we have several coaches who vary from giving the workout and taking a chair to one who harps over you at each set to make intervals), but the other swimmers in my lane or nearby lanes. When I miss a day (it happens once in a while), someone will tell me how I missed quite a set. There are official team events, but also some get together for a quick visit to Starbucks after our morning workouts.
I think the title, "Masters Swimming," creates a misconception to swimmers out there who think they have to be at a collegiate or some sort of level to join. Even now I'll get questions/comments at work or elsewhere and people are amazed at the different levels of swimming represented on my team.
