Books for returning swimmer (sans coach)

Definitely get"Swimming Fastest" by Maglishio(spelling uncertain.)

Definitely get"Swimming Fastest" by Maglishio(spelling uncertain.)Definitely. Here's the link: Amazon.com: Swimming Fastest (9780736031806): Ernest Maglischo: Books "Complete Conditioning..." tells what you need to know about dry-land conditioning and training. It's the only book I've found that has much to say about training the "core" (oh, and by the way, my back hurts, but not as much as it did before I picked up that book). "Breakthrough Swimming" is best for its history of swimming. This is useful book for some swimmers: Amazon.com: Fitness Swimming, Second Edition (9780736074575): Emmett Hines: Books I got a lot out of this book when I first started swimming again: Amazon.com: Swimming Past 50 (Ageless Athlete Series) (9780880119078): Mel Goldstein, David Tanner: Books

Swimming Fastest is very much a advanced textbook on swimming. If you want to be a student of the sport from a scientific perspective, this is a great book. Plan on spending months with the book. Sounds right up my alley. If you try to read the book, decide what you will do, then start training, you may never get back in the pool. I doubt I would try to use it like that. I'm looking for a small group of books that complement each other. I'm already back in the pool using workouts I'm finding via the forum. Great book if you want to read about the theory of eddy currents created as your hand passes through the water and how that affects propulsion. You bet! I have found, to my surprise, that I haven't lost much of my basic stroke. I guess it was so ingrained (after 2hrs/day, 6 days/wk -- at least -- for 7 years) that it's like riding a bicycle. But I'm sure I've lost many finer points (e.g. on my 3rd workout I realized my fingers weren't fully together) and there have been many advances I'm completely unaware of. I don't even know how to do a backstroke turn now, because we used to have to go to the wall on our backs, and my breaststroke is based on keeping my head from going underwater. Now that I have panned one of my favorite books, I don't think there is a good book to get you started. What I would do if I were you is take advantage of the USMS video library, and check out some of the DVDs to bring you back up to speed on the state of swimming, ask questions in the forums and grab some planned workouts from the workouts section of the forums. Thanks for the tip. I haven't looked at the vids yet, or checked out any of the DVD options. That should help a great deal!

Sounds right up my alley. Oh... disregard all my commentary on Swimming Fastest. It is probably the perfect book for you. Thanks for the tip. I haven't looked at the vids yet, or checked out any of the DVD options. That should help a great deal! No problem, but when I give good advice, it is purely by accident.

Well, most of the folks at the pool I'm using, at the time I'm there, are seniors who are swimming, kicking, or even walking for fitness. Besides, I can't watch others and train at the same time. My goal is to get competitive again, if possible. Even if I don't make it, that's what I'm striving for. And a lot has changed since I was competing. Ya, I'm lucky to have college/highschool swimmers that train year around in the pools I swim at. Every once in awhile the coaches will come over and give me little pointers on how to improve. Also helps if you have friends that swam a lot and were pretty good in their highschool years.

Also helps if you have friends that swam a lot and were pretty good in their highschool years. There are only 4 old teammates I'm still in touch with, and none of them swim anymore. :(

When I returned to swimming I found "Total Swimming" by Janet Evans to be very helpful. It has great templates to get you back into shape. Besides, she is such a cutie.

I assume you've already looked over the list of titles at www.usms.org/.../swimming.php, and are asking people which of those titles they would recommend?

There are only 4 old teammates I'm still in touch with, and none of them swim anymore. :( If you want live examples, why don't you ask one of the USAS coaches if you can watch a practice and ask some questions about things you see that are different now? Watching a practice won't take any of their time, and they can probably answer all your questions in a few minutes. Even if there isn't a team nearby, it would be worth a one time trip.

In my mind, you should start with Maglischo, because it is the best reference. It covers nearly every aspect of swimming and it does so with a scientific mind.