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!!
Ouch :drown:
First morning back in and was only able to log 600 yards before my shoulders hit near muscle failure. It took me about 45 min to completely recover both respiratory and upper body :cane:
10 min of stretching then I only did 100 warm up and light 50's the rest of the time. I was having to stretch almost after every 50 and roll a few times to backstroke to catch up on breathing. As the shoulders were breaking down, technique went to hell really quick and long strokes became short chopping strokes.
I had no idea I was this out of sorts. Please tell me this gets better quick.
At least my flip turns are as solid as they ever were and my stroke count from the flags is predictable on back.
I'm pretty sure I felt the same way. Stick with it. Do the workouts: ruthkazez.com/.../ZeroTo1mile.html You'll get there in no time at all. Keep with it. It's totally worth it!
Ouch :drown:
First morning back in and was only able to log 600 yards before my shoulders hit near muscle failure. It took me about 45 min to completely recover both respiratory and upper body :cane:
10 min of stretching then I only did 100 warm up and light 50's the rest of the time. I was having to stretch almost after every 50 and roll a few times to backstroke to catch up on breathing. As the shoulders were breaking down, technique went to hell really quick and long strokes became short chopping strokes.
I had no idea I was this out of sorts. Please tell me this gets better quick.
At least my flip turns are as solid as they ever were and my stroke count from the flags is predictable on back.
It gets better quickly. At your stage you should concentrate on not overdoing it and avoiding injuries.
I'm also your height and I had ballooned to 215 before I started swimming again this summer, and you're only at 200, so take heart. I'm now at about 193 after 3 months of swimming 3-4 times a week.
Yeah, but it's just always been habbit to reach up and wipe them clean between sets. I haven't worn them in so long and it was almost automatic the other day when I put them on to do that when I stopped.
I was the same way and when I got back into the pool, I did so with a pair of swedes. Then I was out of town and needed some goggles and bought a pair of Speedos (which I knew the type, but I don't). The anti-fog actually makes a WORLD of difference in visibility after that first 50 or so once the swedes fog up. I'd highly recommend looking into a pair of anti-fog goggles. I'm still going to wear my swedes for meets, though.
One complaint I have with the Swedish goggles is they don't have an anti-fog coating. Is there a more expensive version that does? I only paid $5 for mine.
The TYR Socket Rocket 2.0s seem to fog less than other Swedes. They cost about $7, or $17 for the metalized version.
Thanks for the link, but back at ya with http://www.swimtowin.com :D
I picked up a few pairs from Swimtowin at $2.79 each and a set of Hind Compy's as well to have around. I still find the Sweedish to be the most comfortable for me. I don't like the gaskets much but wanted to have the Compys on hand for that off-day where I may want them.
I've been back in the water 4 times now. Last W-F and this M-W so far and it's rough going. My lungs do not want to cooporate with the rest of my body. I'm actually running out of oxygen before I can get my heart rate up high enough to really get energized. It appears I have to build my lungs back up before I can really start pushing longer sets.
One complaint I have with the Swedish goggles is they don't have an anti-fog coating. Is there a more expensive version that does? I only paid $5 for mine.
Yeah, but it's just always been habbit to reach up and wipe them clean between sets. I haven't worn them in so long and it was almost automatic the other day when I put them on to do that when I stopped.
Carl, I started back at age 32 after 10 years out of the pool. I can remember my arms hurting so much I couldn't raise them under my pillow to sleep at night. The first year I only worked out for a few months and attended only 1 meet, our state meet. I didn't set the world on fire but I did do well enough to focus on doing better my second year. I was between jobs the second year so I was able to work out with my former high school team doing 7000 - 8000 per day. I got back to within 1 second of my lifetime best in the 100 free. Since that time, I've transitioned to more of a year round swimmer but only doing about 3000 per day. I'm still within 1.5 seconds of my best 100 and am setting lifetime bests in distance events. Keep at it, it'll all come together. When showing up starts to get hard, find a partner. That way you'll feel guilty if you don't show up and it'll help both of you stay engaged in the workouts.
