Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

jroddin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:02:15 GMT

Well, at least I'm not as much of a nerd as I was in high school. Oh wait a minute...:doh:

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Chris Stevenson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:47:58 GMT

But I...weigh the same as I did in high school. Nobody here likes you, Jeff. :)

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Water Rat — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:13:33 GMT

Thanks for the inspiration. I'm going for it.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:57:02 GMT

Hi! I have a similar history to you Mark. Left off at 17 and started swimming again at 34 years of age. I am now 38. Started heavy training with 4-5 swims per week and 2-3 weightlifting sessions per week some 2,5 years ago. I broke my all time best times 2 years ago and have improved ever since. I had my fastest two swims this spring ever: 50 *** SCM 28.63 (32.14 at 17 years of age) 100 *** SCM 1.03.77 (1.10.15 at 17 years of age). Go for it! Everything is possible! Best regards Per

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:55:05 GMT

Nice swims for an old dog. In California (from my dusty recolection) goggles were pretty popular in 1970. I also remember grooving on the halos around street lights, pre-goggles. Good luck in your quest.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:16:28 GMT

Better training, drive, technique, goggles+ In 1970 I had goggles. What kind of suit are you wearing?

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:12:57 GMT

Yes. I did by buying a tech suit. I'm mid 30s. Without a tech suit I eeked out some lifetime bests (comparing poly to poly). Not sure I train "smarter" at all. I train for my enjoyment. Still don't know exactly what training "smarter" means as it applies to each person's specific goals. . . And shouldn't we train "smart?" If we train "smarter," then the question is smarter than what? Than what we did as a kiddos? I would say I train smarter than when I was a kid. Does not mean I'm training correctly. . . I digress.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Glenn — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:38:36 GMT

54.31 & 54.83 were both 100y free

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Glenn — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:37:23 GMT

Was going to school in New Jersey, goggles hadn't arrived yet....... For my 5:33 a speedo Fastskin, my swims in 2009 B70. In '07 I swam a 54.31 in a Fastskin, in '09 I swam a 54.83 twice in a B70.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:02:52 GMT

At 45, I am close to my best times out of high school; those times were set in paper suits, my current ones a B70. Apples to apples, I am therefore still (quite) a way off. I am nowhere near to my best college times, though I hope to get considerably closer in 2010.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Glenn — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:59:23 GMT

1970 - 20 year old, 500 free 5:37+ 2007 - 57 year old, 500 free 5:33.62 2009 - 59 year old, 500 free 5:36.52 1970 - 20yo, 1000 free 11:56.2 2009 - 60 yo, 800 scm 10:21.72 (equal to 11:50 scy) Better training, drive, technique, goggles:banana:

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:25:15 GMT

My sister, Aida Davis, swam competitively for 5 years and quit at 16. Her PB in 100m free was 1'10" 13 years ago at 46 she started training again. Her first international masters championship was in Michigan, 1996, her time 1'17". Her last one was Perth, 2008, at 59, 1'11", and a gold medal. Shortly afterwards she went 1'9"95, improving her PB. She wore a B70. She trains smarter now, swimming being her main activity.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

jroddin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:46:28 GMT

At 40 years old, my times are all faster than my high school best times (except for the 200/500 free). Some of the time drops are significant (23.5 to 21.9 in the 50 free). But I never took any time off and weigh the same as I did in high school, so I may not be a good data point. But to answer the original question: yes, it can be done. Lastly: nobody has mentioned it yet, but Dara Torres has been setting American Records in her 40s (and obviously doing lifetime bests in order to do so).

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Former Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:16:11 GMT

I would say so. I have beaten or am less than a half a second off my best time for my 100 Free and 100 Fly. 100 Back I'm still a couple of seconds off. I have not swam my HS events, 500 fr, 200 fr, 200 IM, as a master though. I had only been back in the water after a shoulder issue that kept me out of the water for over a year. Also I was just wearing regular jammers, nothing fancy.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

tjrpatt — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:54:59 GMT

I am 32 and 15 seconds off my lifetime best in my 200 LCM fly(2:28.59). I did a 2:13 at 18 and when I was 70 lbs lighter. If I can do that kind of time in a middle Linebacker's body, it is possible. Then again, when I was 70 lighter, I still sort of have a middle linebacker's build

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

gigi — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:22:30 GMT

I haven't yet, but I fully expect to meet or beat my best times from my younger days. I'll let y'all know when that happens!

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Midas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:46:33 GMT

I'm 36, so a little younger, but I've already eclipsed my best 100 FR time from my youth, though I rarely swam that race back in the day. I was and am a breaststroker, and so far I'm about 1.5 seconds off my personal best 100 BR time.* My best Masters 200 BR time is about 6 seconds slower than my "all time" PB. The significant reduction in yardage from my youth really hurts me there, I think. But with smart training, I think that you can still swim as fast as you did as a kid at the shorter distances you're talking about. I certainly hope to! *Full disclosure--I *was* wearing a B70 when I swam my best Masters time (though it was the older pointZero3 model) so that might have helped a little.My Masters personal best in a "regular" suit is about 2.0 seconds slower than my lifetime PB, so at most the suit can be credited for .5 seconds, though many other factors could have been responsible for some or all of the difference in my times as well.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

ande — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:59:40 GMT

Yes, it's entirely possible, but it depends upon how much and what kind of training you do from now until you develop the ability. Recently I swam times that were close to what I did as a Senior in high school. If swimming those times is your goal, it is likely to take considerable effort. Ande New here so apologies if this is well-trodden territory, but I'm a 41 year old former age group swimmer. I was pretty good, not great but decided to quit swimming at 17 to pursue "other interests" in college. Basically, I just burned out. Recently, I found myself back in the pool and have swum a few meets and really love it. My times have been pretty good but I wonder if I can ever do a lifetime best at this age? Anybody out there in their 40's or so continuing to kill it in the pool? What are my chances? So far I'm within 2 or 3 seconds of my best 100fr (:49+) and 100br (1:03).

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

pwolf66 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:13:23 GMT

I don't see why not. Just train smarter, not harder and you should be able to reach those times. Especially the ***. The new Breaststroke rules ROCK compared to when you and I were swimming it.

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

Jeff Commings — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:03:24 GMT

Mike Ross is our shining example of swimming lifetime bests in your 40s. 216.197.124.49/.../MikeRoss.wmv

RE: Can a former age-grouper do a lifetime best 20+ years later

funkyfish — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:15:57 GMT

My guess is that if those times are for yards then I would say you've got a good shot. I had a similar time for the 100yd free back in the day and I am within 1/2-1 second of reaching that time. Also, I think that given the swimsuit technology today (he said as he opened the can), I think it should be very "doable." Ultimately go in with the mindset of beating that time and start training for it. Good luck. :bouncing: