I'm new to US Masters Swimming and am a fitness swimmer trying to get faster and build endurance. Anyone who's ever swam (swum?) in a meet should stop reading right now. Because my fastest 50 is about 53 seconds and it takes me about an hour to swim an 1,800. I'm 53 years old, working hard on technique (I have a friend who's a swim coach, and am using Emmett Hine's book "Fitness Swimming", plus a training snorkel at times. I can't wear fins because my feet cramp.). I do some 50s on 1:15 with the pace clock almost every time I swim now and seem to be a little faster. Learning a lot and it feels great. Will begin strength-training this week, too.
So, do you have any advice for a fitness swimmer--what helps with speed?
thanks!!!
Sari
Welcome, Sari!
I am also a fitness swimmer in my fifities. When I first got back in the pool in November of 2009 (after a 30+ year absence), I could barely swim one lap without stopping, and talk about slow!
Fast-forward two months and now I can swim 2000 meters in an hour. I'm planning on competing in open water swims this summer, so I'm not worried about going fast, just far. But, thanks to my Masters coach, we are working to get me faster. To help with my speed, I do 25 meter sprints (25 fast, 25 easy, rest, 25 fast, 25 easy, repeat...). I also do lots of kicking with and without fins while using a swimmer's snorkel and kick board, which has really helped improve my kicking strength. In turn, this helps my speed.
Having someone to coach you is a big help, so you're on the right track there. My best advice is just to get out there and swim, swim, swim. :) The more you swim, the better (and stronger) you'll get, and the stronger you are, the faster you'll swim. At least, that's what is happening for me.
Keep us posted on your progress.
Welcome, Sari!
I am also a fitness swimmer in my fifities. When I first got back in the pool in November of 2009 (after a 30+ year absence), I could barely swim one lap without stopping, and talk about slow!
Fast-forward two months and now I can swim 2000 meters in an hour. I'm planning on competing in open water swims this summer, so I'm not worried about going fast, just far. But, thanks to my Masters coach, we are working to get me faster. To help with my speed, I do 25 meter sprints (25 fast, 25 easy, rest, 25 fast, 25 easy, repeat...). I also do lots of kicking with and without fins while using a swimmer's snorkel and kick board, which has really helped improve my kicking strength. In turn, this helps my speed.
Having someone to coach you is a big help, so you're on the right track there. My best advice is just to get out there and swim, swim, swim. :) The more you swim, the better (and stronger) you'll get, and the stronger you are, the faster you'll swim. At least, that's what is happening for me.
Keep us posted on your progress.
