Hi all,
Between a lengthy bout of bronchitis, job changes and adjusting to new schedules, I haven't swam with any consistency in about a year. I'd like to get back into competition shape -- which entails losing about 15 pounds and gaining back the muscle I lost -- in time for a meet next March or April. Anyone else ever gone through this? How do you work back a schedule of swimming 1-1.5 hours a day and lifting three days a week without doing too much too quickly and burning out or injuring yourself (or giving up because you feel like you're so far away from "good shape"?) Any ideas of what sort of yardage/intervals to start with?
I appreciate the help -- I'm so ready to stop being a couch potato, but I'm not sure where to start.
One way to think about PB's: instead of comparing your times to what you used to do, have "comeback PB's"--so maybe you do x no. of yards in x no. of mins./seconds, then a week later, your x no. of mins./sec.'s has fallen, then you have a PB! I did that w/ age group times. I'm in my 50s and the last time I got a running personal best was in 1995. Of course, I hold out hope, stubborn thing that I am.... But meanwhile, each time I move into a new age group, I "reset." So if my time in a 5k run isn't close to my personal best, it could still be an age group best.
The cool thing for me with swimming was the chance to have personal bests again, since when I started at 54, competitive swimming was a new pursuit. There are always ways to set goals and PB's! Then, at least for running, and I'm not sure if/how it works for swimming, there's the delightful magic of age grading! Liposuction, face lifts, MOVE OVER!!! :D
One way to think about PB's: instead of comparing your times to what you used to do, have "comeback PB's"--so maybe you do x no. of yards in x no. of mins./seconds, then a week later, your x no. of mins./sec.'s has fallen, then you have a PB! I did that w/ age group times. I'm in my 50s and the last time I got a running personal best was in 1995. Of course, I hold out hope, stubborn thing that I am.... But meanwhile, each time I move into a new age group, I "reset." So if my time in a 5k run isn't close to my personal best, it could still be an age group best.
The cool thing for me with swimming was the chance to have personal bests again, since when I started at 54, competitive swimming was a new pursuit. There are always ways to set goals and PB's! Then, at least for running, and I'm not sure if/how it works for swimming, there's the delightful magic of age grading! Liposuction, face lifts, MOVE OVER!!! :D
