I started swimming again in June after a...um...20-year layoff. I realize that I should expect a pretty big difference between workout times long ago and now, but wondered if I can attribute any of this differenct to the fact that I'm training at 5800 feet. In my USA swimming days, I was at sea level. Does anyone know how to calculate this effect or am I just grasping at straws?
Parents
Former Member
I do believe that swimming is a unique aerobic sport in some sense. It is a controlled breathing (i.e. face down for freestlye) sport. In that sense, it is different than other sports.
I was in the same shape as I have been when I moved to Denver from Atlanta..... 3-4 one-hour workouts a week (2,500-3,000yds) and weights.
You will pay in the pool for over a half a year or more at altitude if you are older and trying to get back into it. It will not get easier in a few weeks. Let's face it, even if you were at sea level and starting back after 2 decades, you'd need at the very least 3-4 months to get to the point where you could do a main set (1,000 or 1,500yds) at a constant clip and not fall apart. Altitude will set you back twice as long in terms of workout comfort level.
John Smith
I do believe that swimming is a unique aerobic sport in some sense. It is a controlled breathing (i.e. face down for freestlye) sport. In that sense, it is different than other sports.
I was in the same shape as I have been when I moved to Denver from Atlanta..... 3-4 one-hour workouts a week (2,500-3,000yds) and weights.
You will pay in the pool for over a half a year or more at altitude if you are older and trying to get back into it. It will not get easier in a few weeks. Let's face it, even if you were at sea level and starting back after 2 decades, you'd need at the very least 3-4 months to get to the point where you could do a main set (1,000 or 1,500yds) at a constant clip and not fall apart. Altitude will set you back twice as long in terms of workout comfort level.
John Smith
