Does anyone know of a blog link to a successful Masters swimmer's personal training progression?
What I am looking for is a swimmer who, like many Masters swimmers, was out of the sport for a while, then came back to it having to start over.
My curiosities are:
- How long from getting started did it take to become competitive again. Competitive meaning you aren't necessarily breaking records, but are winning your age group a reasonable amount of time and when not winning, still finishing with the pack.
- During the progression, what was the workout schedule? Was it every day evenings + morning workouts? Only evenings? Saturday practices?
- Did your diet change, are you now eating more or less, different composition?
- Were you slim already or did you have to lose weight as part of your training?
I am trying to figure out how hard to train. I have been back in the water off and on for about 9 months, mostly casually 1-3 coached evening workouts a week (about 3500m each workout). I know I need to ramp it up if I want to compete. I am less concerned about winning, more concerned about just making swim meets worth the time to register and drive, etc. If this means morning and evenings and diet changes, I will do them, but dont want to burn out either, so would be nice to see what successful Masters swimmers have done.
If you are such a swimmer, and want to either share here or have a email conversation, just send me a message.
Me:
- Swam school and club teams from age 6 through a year in college. (Best time was something like 20.63 in 50 free yards in high school.)
- After college, didnt really do any kind of workout program until now.
- Age 32 (33 in a few months)
- My focus is on sprint events 50's and 100's.
- Height: 6'1", Weight: 218 (have lost about 20 lbs since I have started swimming again, hoping to lose another 20, but not shedding them as quickly with the same workout/diet as the first 20)
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Former Member
I appreciate the perspective. I guess my point is I don't want to pay for meet registration and take up a weekend to finish dead last every time. I want to train to the point where at least I am keeping up with the pack and placing in the top half. I think I would be de-motivated if every meet I was last by a huge margin, so I am hoping to motivate myself in training first and go into the first meet with a reasonable feeling of accomplishment.
Hi David,
First of all, with the times you indicate I doubt you'd have to worry much about finishing last or even in the bottom half of your age group, especially at local meets. The Atlanta area meets have a pretty good smattering of people all over the board. I can understand not wanting to commit an entire weekend to a meet at first; have you checked out the developmental meets in the area? There are several during SCY season -- at Marist, Collins Hill, and there was even one at the new West Gwinnett pool in Duluth this past spring. I'm not sure of the dates or the locations, but that might be a good option for you as they generally last about three hours.
Which Masters group do you swim with?
I appreciate the perspective. I guess my point is I don't want to pay for meet registration and take up a weekend to finish dead last every time. I want to train to the point where at least I am keeping up with the pack and placing in the top half. I think I would be de-motivated if every meet I was last by a huge margin, so I am hoping to motivate myself in training first and go into the first meet with a reasonable feeling of accomplishment.
Hi David,
First of all, with the times you indicate I doubt you'd have to worry much about finishing last or even in the bottom half of your age group, especially at local meets. The Atlanta area meets have a pretty good smattering of people all over the board. I can understand not wanting to commit an entire weekend to a meet at first; have you checked out the developmental meets in the area? There are several during SCY season -- at Marist, Collins Hill, and there was even one at the new West Gwinnett pool in Duluth this past spring. I'm not sure of the dates or the locations, but that might be a good option for you as they generally last about three hours.
Which Masters group do you swim with?
