How many of you swim on your own and have had success stories? Masters PB's or better, perhaps? What difficulties do you face on your own?
I have often heard people give the advice to join a team, stating that the friendly competition is good motivation. Is it possible to be motivated enough whilst training by yourself and really excel?
I haven't swum on a team or had coached workouts since I began swimming Masters, five or six years ago. Usually they swim before dawn! And in my case there are no teams close by anyway so I go to the YMCAs. I have had some of my life time best swims (I quit competing after high school and one year of college).
I think in most cases it is a good idea to swim with a team and to have experienced swimmers who can give you ideas, share technique, etc. I have heard that some coaches can be very helpful. Finally, depending on your make up, for most it helps to have a group that "expects" you to show up and to help push you in workouts. I just happen to be kind of obsessive and a bit masochistic so I don't need group support to put myself in pain.
I think healthier souls probably do better swimming with a workout group.
Same story for me, and I agree with what Greg has said. I've been training mostly solo and uncoached for 4+ years. Masters PBs and still seem to be improving.
I think it might be somewhat easier for sprinters to train alone. My biggest challenge is doing hard aerobic work solo. I don't do much of it, focusing on race pace work instead, but it's hard to do intense short rest stuff without a team. It's also, of course, hard to get feedback on technique training solo.
I haven't swum on a team or had coached workouts since I began swimming Masters, five or six years ago. Usually they swim before dawn! And in my case there are no teams close by anyway so I go to the YMCAs. I have had some of my life time best swims (I quit competing after high school and one year of college).
I think in most cases it is a good idea to swim with a team and to have experienced swimmers who can give you ideas, share technique, etc. I have heard that some coaches can be very helpful. Finally, depending on your make up, for most it helps to have a group that "expects" you to show up and to help push you in workouts. I just happen to be kind of obsessive and a bit masochistic so I don't need group support to put myself in pain.
I think healthier souls probably do better swimming with a workout group.
Same story for me, and I agree with what Greg has said. I've been training mostly solo and uncoached for 4+ years. Masters PBs and still seem to be improving.
I think it might be somewhat easier for sprinters to train alone. My biggest challenge is doing hard aerobic work solo. I don't do much of it, focusing on race pace work instead, but it's hard to do intense short rest stuff without a team. It's also, of course, hard to get feedback on technique training solo.
