Goals

Join a masters team -- do all 11 events +4 relays at the state meet -- do an open water distance swim --- go to nationals.

It may be heresy to mention it here, but if you are old enough, look into your state's Senior Games (also known as Senior Olympics). In my experience these meets are low-pressure, lots of fun, and very welcoming to newcomers. Goals: Compete in your regional meet, compete in your state's championship meet, compete in the Nationals (next edition is Houston, 2011).

Join a masters team in your area. Hopefully they can lead you to some meets you can try. Don't let a meet scare you in any way, they are great places to go share your love for swimming and meet others with a similar interest. I did my first meet after only 3 weeks in the pool, a bad back (so bad I couldn't even bend down for a proper start). I looked at this meet as an opportunity to see exactly where my starting point was. Then I made my goals simple like drop a second on my 50 free or something like that. Good Luck.

For a non-racing goal, consider a swim vacation, such as SwimTrek or Baja Expeditions. A cheaper way to do some swim sightseeing is to enter an OW race. Whether or not you focus on competing with the other swimmers at the event, an OW race usually offers the opportunity to swim in a place you would not otherwise be able to swim, and sometimes offers the challenge of completing a distance that is farther than you normally swim in one session (sort of like the challenge of completing a marathon).

For a non-racing goal, consider a swim vacation, such as SwimTrek or Baja Expeditions. Sorry to hijack, but do these outfits cater to groups with a mix of swimmers and non-swimmers? I swim, my wife doesn't. She kayaks, I don't. Maybe Baja Expeditions has a one-person-swims-while-the-other-person-kayaks vacation. :) Skip

I just started swimming again after, oh, 20 years or so. I did 25 lengths my first day in the pool and thought I was gonna die, now a month later I'm up to 65 and feeling fantastic. A friend of mine recently started running and we've been talking about how wonderful it has been to find an exercise program that we LOVE instead of just endure. She just completed a half marathon and is working toward running a full marathon. Her goal is to run the Boston Marathon. I was a synchronized swimmer when I was a kid. I've never raced in swimming and I don't know that I'd enjoy it, but it would be great to have a goal to work toward. Does anyone have any suggestions? Good for you for returning to the pool. It is wonderful exercise. Your friend who wants to qualify for the Boston Marathon, good for her. A friend of mine just ran the Portland, OR marathon and he wants to run Boston. He says he needs to get down to a 3 hour 15 minute time to qualify. That sounds fast. As far as suggestions, I suggest you join your local masters team. It is easier to swim with individuals in the same boat, working towards similar goals, and swimming similar sets. Swimming solo can be tough, especially when it comes to making your sets. I always find an excuse to not make all my times, basically cutting corners when I swim solo. Longer term goal? Health? Weight? Perhaps an open water distance swim? You name it. Good luck!

If you are anywhere near Brookfield, Ct., Call the Y and ask about synchronized swimming. We've got a small group. And need support.

Not near CT, unfortunately. An open water swim is sounding good to me. I'm more confident about my endurance than my speed, so I could see entering one with the goal to finish rather than to win. I think there's one near me next July (the info I found is a little iffy), right after my 40th birthday. It would be a great way to celebrate my birthday, to accomplish something like that. What could be a better midlife crisis? I'm getting excited! The Masters team here meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and with my kids' schedules I can't do evenings. :(