I love to swim sprints in a masters meet but I also have enjoyed doing triathlons. It is very difficult to train for both. I'd love to hear from folks that compete in both masters meets and triathlons to learn how they balance training and competing in both.
I am a triathlete who when she grows up, wants to be a swimmer!!!
I wanted to do tris at the age of 40--big problem--did not know how to swim (at all--not even put face in water) or ride a bike. Learned to do both. But, my swim coach after a year invited me to swim with him at a local masters.
I thought I was going to die. However, the masters coach said to me at the end of practice, see you on Monday. Three years later--still on that masters team. In the winter swim with the team 3-4 times a week; in the summer, I swim twice a week with team and on weekends in open water.
Yes, when I grow up, I want to do a swim meet. Go back to the top--I just learned how to swim....so our AWESOME director of Masters, Patrick Cantrell held a clinic for us because I did not know how to dive or do flip turns and I asked him to help find a place where I could learn. He did help me enormously and I am hoping next season to be able to do both well enough to enter a meet.
As for tri training, on the off days, I lift, spin and run. I do sprint and oly tris, so that is enough for me. Now, in the summer, on weekends, I go for a ride (and my other car happens to be a cervelo) and then run and then hit the local pool or the bay depending on the weather.
The swimming helps me because of my knees. I can only take so much pounding and I mash on the bike. Swimming relieves the stress.
I love swimming and appreciate masters and what it has to offer. I get annoyed when people say to the coach, but I would rather do yardage rather than sets for my upcoming tri. My response would be, that is why we also have a tri swim team and there are open lanes.
Our masters team also has some killer tri folks on it who do IM distances and several who place in national tris.....but they do the sets and love them.
I think it depends on you and what you enjoy the most. I am not out to win at the tris, just to do better than last time and stay fit. As for swimming, I cannot get enough or learn enough. I want so badly to be a better swimmer.
I am an attorney and so I work out every day at 5:00 am even on weekends. By 8:00, someone is just about starting to look for me.
Good luck--you can do both. I train with many excellent triathletes who also particpate in swim meets.
I am a triathlete who when she grows up, wants to be a swimmer!!!
I wanted to do tris at the age of 40--big problem--did not know how to swim (at all--not even put face in water) or ride a bike. Learned to do both. But, my swim coach after a year invited me to swim with him at a local masters.
I thought I was going to die. However, the masters coach said to me at the end of practice, see you on Monday. Three years later--still on that masters team. In the winter swim with the team 3-4 times a week; in the summer, I swim twice a week with team and on weekends in open water.
Yes, when I grow up, I want to do a swim meet. Go back to the top--I just learned how to swim....so our AWESOME director of Masters, Patrick Cantrell held a clinic for us because I did not know how to dive or do flip turns and I asked him to help find a place where I could learn. He did help me enormously and I am hoping next season to be able to do both well enough to enter a meet.
As for tri training, on the off days, I lift, spin and run. I do sprint and oly tris, so that is enough for me. Now, in the summer, on weekends, I go for a ride (and my other car happens to be a cervelo) and then run and then hit the local pool or the bay depending on the weather.
The swimming helps me because of my knees. I can only take so much pounding and I mash on the bike. Swimming relieves the stress.
I love swimming and appreciate masters and what it has to offer. I get annoyed when people say to the coach, but I would rather do yardage rather than sets for my upcoming tri. My response would be, that is why we also have a tri swim team and there are open lanes.
Our masters team also has some killer tri folks on it who do IM distances and several who place in national tris.....but they do the sets and love them.
I think it depends on you and what you enjoy the most. I am not out to win at the tris, just to do better than last time and stay fit. As for swimming, I cannot get enough or learn enough. I want so badly to be a better swimmer.
I am an attorney and so I work out every day at 5:00 am even on weekends. By 8:00, someone is just about starting to look for me.
Good luck--you can do both. I train with many excellent triathletes who also particpate in swim meets.
