As I said before I'm new at this and I have no idea what an "average" time for a mile would be. Right now I do a non-stop mile (1600 meters) in about 40 minutes. What would be a resonable time for a 48 year old in good good shape? I'm looking for a realistic goal.
Like you I started swimming at 48. Although I learned to swim when I was 6 or 7, I had no competitive swimming background and had not swam in years. When I started 7 years ago, I could not swim 25 yards without hanging on the wall gasping for air. I'm now 55 and last week I did a 1600 meter swim in 26 minutes.
As I said before I'm new at this and I have no idea what an "average" time for a mile would be. Right now I do a non-stop mile (1600 meters) in about 40 minutes. What would be a resonable time for a 48 year old in good good shape? I'm looking for a realistic goal.
I can see I've got some major research to do especially on technique.
I've probably done more technique work in the past six months than in the previous 2-3 years. My 5k time last week was within a minute of what I did two years ago even though my yardage was way, way down, especially during month leading up to the swim. If I would have had enough glycogen in my system I'm pretty sure I would have been faster than two years ago, but I bonked at about the 3500 meter mark.
Skip Montanaro
If anyone can tell me where to find some good workout drills for newbie I would appreciate it.Check out the places to swim in “Ozark” from the USMS places to swim web page www.usms.org/placswim you should be able to find some coached program where you can improve your swimming.
Former Member
Hey, thanks everybody. I'm a little depressed/overwhelmed at the work I have to do. I can see I've got some major research to do especially on technique.
I've just swtiched up my workouts from two 200 meter warm-ups and then a 1600 non-stop to an 800 meter warm-up (2-200s and a 400) and then 8 - 100 meter "sprints" - I use the term loosely because I'm not very fast at those either. To start out I'll do the sprint workout once a week and the 1600 swim 3 times a week. Will this help my speed on the 1600?
Former Member
Scott, I am not a fast swimmer and can't offer any advice. However, first of all, keep up the good work!
I read somewhere unless you can swim like 1:30 or 1:40/100m (don't remember exact pace), you shouldn't focus on a distance/interval swimming, but rather spend almost entire workout on doing drills and improve your techniques. For you will just reinforce a poor technique and simply learn how to swim longer as your aerboci fitness improves. I am not sure if this is true. Can somebody comment?
Former Member
Scott, I am not a fast swimmer and can't offer any advice. However, first of all, keep up the good work!
I read somewhere unless you can swim like 1:30 or 1:40/100m (don't remember exact pace), you shouldn't focus on a distance/interval swimming, but rather spend almost entire workout on doing drills and improve your techniques. For you will just reinforce a poor technique and simply learn how to swim longer as your aerboci fitness improves. I am not sure if this is true. Can somebody comment?
I think this is the kind of thing I really need to hear - that I'm doing it all wrong. This is just like when I started weight lifting - it's next to impossible to figure out everything by yourself. I'll look up some drills and start building better habits and maybe try and find a coach to work with for a bit - my technique is probably all screwed up too.
The good news is I like the challange.
If anyone can tell me where to find some good workout drills for newbie I would appreciate it.
Former Member
You will save lots of time if you have a proper coach. One who knows how to teach technique. Drills are of no value unless they are done correctly. Oh how I hate to even talk about drills. I spent 30 minutes with a triathlete. He worked on what I thought he should on his own for 2 weeks. He went from a 35 min mile to a 26 min mile.
Former Member
Like you I started swimming at 48. Although I learned to swim when I was 6 or 7, I had no competitive swimming background and had not swam in years. When I started 7 years ago, I could not swim 25 yards without hanging on the wall gasping for air. I'm now 55 and last week I did a 1600 meter swim in 26 minutes.
Well, there is hope for me -:cheerleader:. I have the same history except starting to really swim at 55. And it may take me 7 years, to do a 1600m in 26 minutes! :laugh2:
Last Friday I swam the postal 5k in 1:32:02. My 1600 split was 28:47. I'm 53. I'm not super dedicated (probably swim 3-4x per week, between 2000 and 5000 yds per workout). I've been swimming USMS since I turned 50. Before that, my only semi-serious swimming was during my years as a lifeguard in college.
Skip Montanaro
Hard to know what exactly an "average" time means, but if you want a "good" time check the USMS Top Ten listings. Last year for the 45-49 age group it took a 20:33 for tenth place in the 1500 long course. So figure about 22 minutes for 1600 meters.