Any advice for a backslider?

Did you make it to the pool? How was it?

I've missed about two months of swimming due to a broken rib, kids on vacation, and work conflicts. My coach recommends starting out with longer swims at half power. It takes awhile to get the feel of the water. Personally, I try to do an extra 1500 meters in the early evening at the town pool. Since there are few swimmers there, people always tell me how fast I am.:laugh2: Since this never happens at my Masters practice, I relish the experience.

I DID IT!!!! Day 1 of the comeback, haha, began Tuesday. I got in the pool and did a broken 1650 -- 11 laps, rest 15 seconds, 10 laps, rest 15 seconds, 9 laps, etc. It took me about 30 minutes. Then I got out and lifted upper body, and that took about 30 minutes also. I did three sets of a handful of upper body exercises (less weight than I was used to) and then tried that assisted dip/chin-up machine. I could only do 5 each (with a lot of assistance!). Now I'm sore and tired. I'm happy I went, but already feeling discouraged about how exhausted and sore I am, which is what I was afraid of, that I had lost so much in a year. Will it take me a year to get back to what I was, weight-wise and strength-wise and speed-wise? Or less? I'm hoping to hit the pool again tomorrow to do about the same distance and hopefully get in lower-body lifting. Thursday's bad because I have to go in early for a 10-11 hour day, but hopefully my body recovers and I can get back in Friday. Thank you all, again, for all the support and advice! It's really been helpful! Hoorah - good for you!!! The time needed to get back to full strength will depend on you! Will it happen overnight? Of course not! But even within 2 weeks, you'll already be feeling stronger. Just remember, you didn't lose your strength and speed overnight, so you won't gain it back overnight either. Now for the good news - you are that much closer to your goal. Yes - you will be at full strength by March-April 2008, barring any injuries and long term layoffs. Keep going!

I DID IT!!!! I'm happy I went, but already feeling discouraged about how exhausted and sore I am, which is what I was afraid of, that I had lost so much in a year. Will it take me a year to get back to what I was, weight-wise and strength-wise and speed-wise? Or less? Thank you all, again, for all the support and advice! It's really been helpful! Think of it this way. If you don't do it at all, or don't try to be consistent you absolutely will not gain back your fitness. Take it one day at a time, get through the soreness, forgive yourself for the days that don't work out, and then get up and do it again tomorrow. Sorry about the job issues. Having gone through 18 months, of potentially waiting for word of closure, lay-offs, whatever, I have a lot of sympathy.

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