My name is Carl and I just wanted to stop in and say hi as someone who is getting ready to return to the water after 16 years (and looking for a good starting point)
I swam varsity all through HS as a multi-purpose member of the team. Back, ***, Free and by default IM or Relay (pick any 3) depending on the lineup. Also played water polo for the short time our school had it available. Well, since leaving HS I have been out of the water except for play time.
Now here I am at 33 and I have given myself 2 years to get back into competitive shape. I don't expect the shape I was in 16 years ago, but even half that would be worth it at this point in my life. I'd also love to be able to do some light competition again. I consider myself slightly overweight at (6'1" 200lbs) and out of shape after getting married and having 2 boys of my own now. We just joined up at the YMCA which also has a cross membership with a local recreation complex both with indoor pool facilities. I'm planning to shop in the next day or two to get a gear bag back together (although the goggles I will have to order since nobody local sells swedish goggles which I prefer) and head on down to start towards my goal.
I can still Fly, but probably no more than 25Y at a time and that would be pushing it. I can still do back and free comfortable and relaxed but my kick is quite lacking from what I remember and awkard feeling and my *** feels slow and out of synch. I'm assuming that will all come back with time in the water.
Sorry for rambling, but the end result is that I'm in need of a good workout program to be in the water at least 3 days a week and on my bowflex and bike at least 2 additional days. I'm starting to comb through these forums for help in this, but if anyone can offer any direct assistance, I would be greatly appreciative.
Thanks!!
Former Member
Thanks for the welcome.
Replied to your PM Bill and thanks for the offer!
I left out the fact that I was really bad for about 10 years and picked up the cancer stick habbit. I've been off of them for about 3 years now and just begining to feel like I can exert my lungs again. I am embarrased to share that, but it's just another reason for me to push.
Great forum and great suggestions all. Thank you!
I set a broad goal a bit further out than I would like specifically becuase I don't know what my starting point is going to be yet and with 2 young kids life does have a tendency of getting in the way from time to time.
I believe I'm going to start out with the Zero to 1 Mile workout above to get back into the stroke of things so to speak. I'm also hoping to spend some time with some local masters swimmers and a coach for motivation and stroke work but since there don't appear to be any at my local centers that I belong to I haven't figured out my best course of action on that one yet.
I've been swimming on my own for the last three months and thus far have been able to self-motivate within my workouts. I'd recommend doing the same for people just getting back into the water because you can do things at your own pace. You don't have to worry about keeping up, getting lapped, etc.
I am thinking of joining a team this winter when my summertime pool closes in late October but haven't decided. I think being on a team will help push me, but it may push me more than I want.
Very true.
It's unfortunate that so many high school and college swimmers leave the pool with a feeling of relief...as if everything was a chore. I recall not wanting to go near a pool for the longest time. Now you can't keep me away from one.
When I quit swimming, I had grown so sick of swimming that I hated getting wet (especially in the morning). I didn't even enjoy getting a morning shower! Now I'm up at the crack of dawn and in the pool by 6:00am and loving every minute of it (though getting in the pool is still tough).
My advice is to find a local meet and enter it - whatever looks like fun to you. Being a former collegiate swimmer who was reduced to a single event by my third year, I very much enjoy being able to pick out anything I want. That 100IM sure is fun, I really stink at it but I do it anyway. Get some times and those can be your new baseline - your Masters baseline. Forget about high school and college times and start fresh. Masters is about participating so go enjoy it, don't wait for that magic "back in shape" moment cuz it may never happen.
Just focus on getting a new set of masters times!
Very true.
It's unfortunate that so many high school and college swimmers leave the pool with a feeling of relief...as if everything was a chore. I recall not wanting to go near a pool for the longest time. Now you can't keep me away from one.
Once the perspective shifts from swimming as work...to doing it just for fun and fitness...everything changes. And as Fortress said, it's a good idea to start with a new benchmark for your goals. Setting the bar too high can lead to discouragement. Maybe after a while you'll surprise yourself with a time that comes very close to your earlier career. But until then it should be all about enjoying the sport.
Welcome back to the water.
Similar story for me, training became an un-fun chore and improvement stopped. Now it's very different, perhaps no less frustrating but more rewarding.
Friendly suggestions:
1. Find the right team
2. Get some stroke clinic work - fix the bad habits, learn the latest evolution of stroke thinking, don't just grind out mileage
3. Get someone to videotape your strokes as a benchmarking tool
4. Consider the shoulder-focused weight programs discussed around here
5. Compete for fun
Thanks for the welcome.
Replied to your PM Bill and thanks for the offer!
I left out the fact that I was really bad for about 10 years and picked up the cancer stick habbit. I've been off of them for about 3 years now and just begining to feel like I can exert my lungs again. I am embarrased to share that, but it's just another reason for me to push.
I smoked too and am now swimming again after a 24 year break and loving every minute of it. My biggest battle is trying to stop myself from swimming everyday. So far I haven't succeeded.
The advice given here is excellent. Baby steps at first. Attainable goals and once reached extend the goal posts out a little further. Taking on too much too soon can lead to injury and injury or illness is much more unwelcome than an unattained goal.
All the best with your comeback.
Syd
Great forum and great suggestions all. Thank you!
I set a broad goal a bit further out than I would like specifically becuase I don't know what my starting point is going to be yet and with 2 young kids life does have a tendency of getting in the way from time to time.
I believe I'm going to start out with the Zero to 1 Mile workout above to get back into the stroke of things so to speak. I'm also hoping to spend some time with some local masters swimmers and a coach for motivation and stroke work but since there don't appear to be any at my local centers that I belong to I haven't figured out my best course of action on that one yet.
Carl - being a guy of similar size as you, I would hesitate to call that overweight ;)
Anyways, welcome back to the pool! I think AnnG has some good advice about just picking a meet and swimming in it. The biggest thing I regret about my masters career is not doing more meets when I was starting out. They are a lot of fun, and my teammates were very inclusive, making sure I got on relays, sat with them, etc.
It really helped to develop friendships with the guys on the team and get more involved in team activities.
-jeff
Carl - being a guy of similar size as you, I would hesitate to call that overweight ;)
It's not so much the weight as the distribution of weight :drink:
