As good as you once were?

RE: As good as you once were?

fritznh — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:09:11 GMT

I am faster than I was in high school, though it took me more than two years to get to that level. Some strokes came back faster than others, for me backstroke was easier to remember how to swim than free or fly, and my breaststroke has never been all that strong. The good news is that now that I can swim the 50 fly I can get a lifetime best since I haven't done that since I was 12 years old. 18 / 21 / 46 22.7 21.0 21.4 (conv) 50 free 48.8 45.5 47.7 (conv) 100 free 54.5 52.1 54.4 100 back (now with flip turns, SDK, tech suit) The real reason I've kept swimming, though, is that I really like the people I swim with. It is also great seeing people I used to swim with at the meets, still plugging away and staying healthy.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:00:10 GMT

Short answer: No I consider myself an evolved swimmer that realistically will never go sub-4:40 in the 500. (However sub 5:00 would be nice) Evolved meaning I have a job, family, kids sports, etc like most 43 year olds. Sure it would be nice to have 6 hours a day to train, lift & do dry lands. The real satisfaction comes from doing tough sets and getting the base intervals down approaching college practices. Completely agree with previous posts about training with a group that challenges each other. I would rather train to do an epic set in practice than go to a meet any day. Tree What you say reminds me of the T-shirt everyone wore when I was a kid: "I LOVE SWIMMING it's the practice I hate". As a grownup, I LOVE practicing. I love working hard, I love paying attention to my stroke and trying to make it perfect, I love kicking, hell- I even love BREASTROKE!!! To answer the OP: I am not as fast as I once was. I think it may be possible. Partly because I was wasn't that great. And partly because I'm a lot smarter now. I had what was considered a very nice efficient stroke as a kid (thanks to a terrific early coach) but I think I understand what I'm doing a lot better than I did then. I'm not sure if that's going to bring me to that point I was at when I was at my peak as a kid, but it's at least POSSIBLE if I work hard enough for long enough.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:46:19 GMT

Thanks Hofff, I'm the OP. I enjoy the competition. I like pushing this 47 year old body as much as I can. At Nadadores, in Mission Viejo, there are a group of us who are always racing and pushing each other in workouts and meets. It doesn't matter if your 25 or 65 it's fun to compete and it's fun to get faster. My breaststroke and free times are not as "fast" as when I was a 19 year old (Only year of competitive college swimming). But they are faster than HS. :) I personally think I can go faster in the BR and FR sprints then i went in College because i pay so much more attention to efficiency and proper stroke mechanics; Plus I wasn't blazing fast in college like alot of posters on this forum. Have a good day all. Goals: 50BR - 28.53 100BR - 1:05.98 :cane: I wish I knew exacly what my times were in high school. But I don't remember them well and I can't find a written record anywhere (mom? dad? didn't you save some of this??). I did not swim in college except as a once a year intramural swim meet. I know that as a 51 year old who realistically quit swimming at 17 I am about as fast as I was in races 100 yds or less. In longer races I am clearly slower - the best comparison is 200 IM in high school about 2:12 and 2:20 at age 49 at SCY Nationals two years ago. I simply have had great difficulty regaining aerobic fitness. I'm very happy overall with my 29.98 50 *** and 1:00 100 IM. For some reason I can't match my intramural 50 fly time and I continue to work on that.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:30:21 GMT

Seems like a pretty judgemental attitude. Maybe comparing to teenage years is an interesting ruler to measure things for some people. It think it is an interesting physiological issue at the least. The OP didn't say he would be disappointed if he couldn't match his high school times. It doesn't mean he is living or dwelling in the past either. Thanks Hofff, I'm the OP. I enjoy the competition. I like pushing this 47 year old body as much as I can. At Nadadores, in Mission Viejo, there are a group of us who are always racing and pushing each other in workouts and meets. It doesn't matter if your 25 or 65 it's fun to compete and it's fun to get faster. My breaststroke and free times are not as "fast" as when I was a 19 year old (Only year of competitive college swimming). But they are faster than HS. :) I personally think I can go faster in the BR and FR sprints then i went in College because i pay so much more attention to efficiency and proper stroke mechanics; Plus I wasn't blazing fast in college like alot of posters on this forum. Have a good day all. Goals: 50BR - 28.53 100BR - 1:05.98 :cane:

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:46:59 GMT

I'm not whining. Or angry, lol. That's my abrasive east coast personality. ;) I just think it's rather silly to live in or dwell on the past. But if it rocks your boat, go right ahead. :) Seems like a pretty judgemental attitude. Maybe comparing to teenage years is an interesting ruler to measure things for some people. It think it is an interesting physiological issue at the least. The OP didn't say he would be disappointed if he couldn't match his high school times. It doesn't mean he is living or dwelling in the past either.

RE: As good as you once were?

Allen Stark — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:51:02 GMT

At 60 I am faster than HS,not as fast as college.At 30 I was faster than in college(which I attribute to more race pace work and focus on sprinting.In college the 200 BR was the only distance we did in duel meets and we didn't do enough fast stuff.)

RE: As good as you once were?

ande — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:12:57 GMT

I think it's possible for many over 40 swimmers to swim lifetime best times, Dara proved it's possible at the highest level. But it takes a huge amount of work, focus and dedication that few are willing to do. It helps if the swimmer trained at the elite level well into their 30's and never got too out of shape during their break. I bet swimmers like Ian Crocker, Brendan Hansen, Aaron Piersol, Josh Davis, Gary Hall, Neil Walker, Summer Sanders, Natalie Coughlin could make impressive comebacks in their late 30's and early 40's

RE: As good as you once were?

Patrick W. Brundage — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:03:17 GMT

I've got mixed emotions on this topic ... On the one hand, I'm 100% in agreement with Wookie on this point: I train to race the best that I that I can on a given day. If I go slower in a race, so be it. If I go faster, so be it. I don't get worked up over times. On the other hand, I get motivated to get up early and do the workouts by setting goal times, so I agree with Tom on this point: I like the challenge of trying to get near lifetime best and you don't have to do 8,000 workouts everyday to do like I did as an age grouper. I think you can do both: set a goal time, but also not be too high pressured or care too much if you don't get it. Masters swimming is so much "less heavy" and fun in that respect than age group or collegiate swimming was where races and times seemed to have so much more "weight" and importance.

RE: As good as you once were?

pdjang — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:21:46 GMT

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

RE: As good as you once were?

jeffsab — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:50:54 GMT

I just got back in the water 2 months ago after roughly 20 years out since HS. I would love to become as fast as my 17-yr-old self, but what I'm much more interested in is just being able to swim like I once did. To me, this means looking and feeling fast and powerful in the water. It means being able to complete most any workout in any stroke. I don't care so much if I swim a few seconds slower in meets, as long as times are still respectable, but I want to feel that same oneness with the water that I had back when I was young. I want races to be the sort of hard but effortless fun they can be when everything clicks. I also wouldn't mind kicking some major butt on the swim leg during triathlon season, but we'll save that discussion for a different post.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:05:18 GMT

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:18:51 GMT

I've been out so long, I don't recall my old times.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:04:10 GMT

Excellent posts guys! I really enjoy hearing everyone's perspective... this is good feedback.

RE: As good as you once were?

Karen Duggan — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:11:20 GMT

I've always likened swimming to golf. You keep going back because there is always something to improve. I've done my life best times in Masters (without tech suits), and I know that I can still go faster. Like someone said it just takes time and dedication. I've always been dedicated, but time has eluded me. I've even heard of people giving themselves new categories for comparison, such as pre-kids and post-kids. I'm not a fan of that exactly, because my ultimate goal is to go faster than pre-kids, however using a post-kids as a new place to start is appealing. For people who think they never reached their potential (myself included), I think it is fine to look back at your inner-younger swimmer. :D

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:59:01 GMT

It is very important!!! It is the essence of competition. It is why we are in the pool twice a day swimming our a$$e$ off. :2cents: The competition is beating the time I went at the last meet.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:54:56 GMT

I just read that Rich Abrahams went faster in the 50 free at 53 years old than he did at NCAAs, pre tech suits. There are also people like me, who have not gone as fast as when they were in high school. So you are going to go as fast as you are going to go and the statistics probably aren't going to change that.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:54:09 GMT

I have never understood why this was of any importance ... Just be a masters swimmer ... I'm close in the 50s, I guess. It is very important!!! It is the essence of competition. It is why we are in the pool twice a day swimming our a$$e$ off. :2cents:

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:42:42 GMT

From what I have seen most college swimmers can get back to their high school times but the ones who stopped at high school can't do it. It also depends on your experience leading up to that. I guess it boils down to you will always be a % slower than your best as you age. I just wish their was a formula that would let me know what to expect. My coach thinks I can improve a few seconds in the 100 and possibly make a top 10. Just figuring my odds...

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:35:24 GMT

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. odds were pretty good for me. i sucked in HS.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:59:37 GMT

At age 58, I am swimming my all time fastest times! Georgio :bolt:

RE: As good as you once were?

The Fortress — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:39:10 GMT

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 have never understood why this was of any importance ... Just be a masters swimmer ... I'm close in the 50s, I guess.

RE: As good as you once were?

ande — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:28:55 GMT

Hello, it all depends I'm about as fast as I was at age 18 sr in high school (in sprints) but slower than I was at 23 event / 18 time / life best time / current 50 fr 22.0 20.4 21.4 100 fr 48.0 44.7 48.8 100 fl 52.0 48.8 51.8 200 im 1:56.4 1:51.4 1:58.3 it depends on how much you trained how long you trained how good you were at your peak how many years you took off how bad of shape you let yourself get in injuries how you've been training recently each persons story is different I swim with a fellow who's 37 & he's swimming faster than he did in highschool and college but maybe others can share their high school times / peak times / & current times 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?

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:27:57 GMT

Im swimming faster now. At 41 Im doing 49s for the 100 scy free and my backstroke is rocking 1.04 lcm 100 back. I was not a rocket in HS but did place at state in FL 5A... Played water polo in college so I don't have times.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:20:12 GMT

We did not have a year-round program when I started swimming age 15. I was a walk-on 2 years in college and we had 5 workouts a week, probably 3000y each practice. I was still getting big time drops when I quit despite not getting enough yardage to swim the distance events. Title IX kicked in and the sport got too competitive for me so I was no longer earning points for my college team. With limited team resources and pool space, I reluctantly quit with no other opportunities to swim. I started swimming Masters about 17 years later and made a run at my lifetime best times. Unfortunately I did not have my "old" college times recorded; and back then we were swimming the 400y free, not the 500y. Based on estimates I got very close on my 200y Free and went faster than the 500y Free on the few times I had swum it as a teenager. I also did not have a tapered+official 400y free time but was close on 500y splits. The big deal for me about matching HS/college times for me was that feeling that I had never achieved what I was capable of doing. I always wanted to see how fast I really could go.

RE: As good as you once were?

Former Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:41:00 GMT

Do not use the royal "we." It's not why I train and compete. I don't give a toss if I beat my high school times. The "essence" of competition for me is beating the current competition and/or beating my prior masters times. In fact, it's hard to even compare times accurately if (like me) one is wearing fancy tech suits now and wasn't in high school. Ok i'll use the word "you" Quit whining...Why are you so angry? It is fun to compete against your PB's whether they were last week or in High School.