Have you improved over time? I'm talking actual time improvements compared to lifetime bests.
I consistently swam sporadically for several years. Get it?
For the past 9 months I have been training and racing fairly consistently and I finally feel like I'm on the verge of actually improving.
I have swam a number of best times in off events. I have not bested any of my big ones.
What has your experience been? I'm talking about lifetime bests.
I'm 33. I swam DIII in college. so, I was ok but not great or anything.
I'm mainly interested in your actual experience. Things that have actually happened. Rather than what is supposed to happen.
Parents
Former Member
I'm always curious to see how these questions are answered.
I wonder too is there a difference between sprinters, mid-dist, and distance swimmers and their improvements, be it life time best or masters bests? Do sprinters have a better chance at this? I don't know, throwing it out there.
At 38, I am hoping that I am not yet done improving. I am getting closer to life best times, but not yet, at least not in the events that I like! I did do a life best 500 this year (the last time I did 5:40 I was 13!). But I hate freestyle (mostly b/c I'm not good at it :D ), so while it's fun to say I did a life best, it's not an event I really like.
Most of my best times came as masters swimmer in my 20s. No college to speak of as they cut the program.
that's a good question. I don't know if older swimmers are more inclined to improve sprinting, mid distance, or distance.
Seems like a lot of endurance athletes are in their mid 30s or better. But, you know, kids are exactly hot on the endurance scene.
I have trouble imagining Janet Evans being capable of coming back and competing in the 800 again. I don't know though. Just a hunch.
Obviously, Dara Torres and even some really talented masters swimmers have come back and really done amazing at shorter distances. I don't know though.
I'm always curious to see how these questions are answered.
I wonder too is there a difference between sprinters, mid-dist, and distance swimmers and their improvements, be it life time best or masters bests? Do sprinters have a better chance at this? I don't know, throwing it out there.
At 38, I am hoping that I am not yet done improving. I am getting closer to life best times, but not yet, at least not in the events that I like! I did do a life best 500 this year (the last time I did 5:40 I was 13!). But I hate freestyle (mostly b/c I'm not good at it :D ), so while it's fun to say I did a life best, it's not an event I really like.
Most of my best times came as masters swimmer in my 20s. No college to speak of as they cut the program.
that's a good question. I don't know if older swimmers are more inclined to improve sprinting, mid distance, or distance.
Seems like a lot of endurance athletes are in their mid 30s or better. But, you know, kids are exactly hot on the endurance scene.
I have trouble imagining Janet Evans being capable of coming back and competing in the 800 again. I don't know though. Just a hunch.
Obviously, Dara Torres and even some really talented masters swimmers have come back and really done amazing at shorter distances. I don't know though.
