What are the odds of getting back to your high school or college times? I'm 40 and just got back into it 7 months ago. I was an age group swimmer from 9yrs old till 18yrs old.
Right now my freestyle is off about a second per 50yd. My 100yd *** was my specialty in high school and I am still about 5 seconds off that time... although I don't swim it nearly enough in practice.
How far off is everyone else off? Is there hope of being as fast as you were as a teenager?
I just turned 55. It's hard to make a fair comparison because of a number of factors (not just the swimskins).
For someone of my generation, the pools were considerably different (no gutters, rope lane lines, wooden starting blocks, etc). Whew - talk about turbulence!
For later generations, there are two other factors to consider: swim suit technology has changed (we used to sew patches on our nylon baggies) and of course, the myriad rule changes (you had to touch the wall with your hand on backstroke, some part of your head must remain above water during breaststroke, etc..).
One thing that hasn't changed for me - the love of swimming. I'd still swim and compete for the fun and health of it!
See you in the water,
Philipp
I just turned 55. It's hard to make a fair comparison because of a number of factors (not just the swimskins).
For someone of my generation, the pools were considerably different (no gutters, rope lane lines, wooden starting blocks, etc). Whew - talk about turbulence!
For later generations, there are two other factors to consider: swim suit technology has changed (we used to sew patches on our nylon baggies) and of course, the myriad rule changes (you had to touch the wall with your hand on backstroke, some part of your head must remain above water during breaststroke, etc..).
One thing that hasn't changed for me - the love of swimming. I'd still swim and compete for the fun and health of it!
See you in the water,
Philipp
