Hi all. I am new to masters swimming as I have quite literally been out of the water for 32 years. I joined our local group 2 weeks ago and I have a meet this sunday. I very ambitiously have entered the 50 back and the 100 IM. Yesterday I learned how to start off the block with goggles on; when I swam in 1969-1974, no one wore goggles or caps.
I am trying to swim a minimum of 3 days a week (2 with the master group and 1 or 2 on my own with swimplan.com workouts).
And, I am completely exhausted. I can barely lift my arms. It makes me feel like I've made a huge mistake. I realize that it's only been a month, but I am tired. I did try masters rowing this summer (wicked fun till you flip the boat) but didn't really give me any extra arm strength. What can I do on land that would help. The only weight class I can take is at the same time as the swimming in different gym/different town. I do have hand weights up to 8 lbs.
Welcome back to swimming.
You need to cut yourself some slack. I don't know of too many people, Olympians included, that can come back from anything after 32 years, and in 2 weeks feel great.
I would definitely stick with it. You're working hard it sounds like. The most important thing is to listen to your body at this point. Get a base (which you just started), and then work on swimming farther and smarter.
Don't give up, you've just begun. And having a coach is huge. Use them.
:bighug:
Hi all. I am new to masters swimming as I have quite literally been out of the water for 32 years. I joined our local group 2 weeks ago and I have a meet this sunday. I very ambitiously have entered the 50 back and the 100 IM. Yesterday I learned how to start off the block with goggles on; when I swam in 1969-1974, no one wore goggles or caps.
I am trying to swim a minimum of 3 days a week (2 with the master group and 1 or 2 on my own with swimplan.com workouts).
And, I am completely exhausted. I can barely lift my arms. It makes me feel like I've made a huge mistake. I realize that it's only been a month, but I am tired. I did try masters rowing this summer (wicked fun till you flip the boat) but didn't really give me any extra arm strength. What can I do on land that would help. The only weight class I can take is at the same time as the swimming in different gym/different town. I do have hand weights up to 8 lbs.
Welcome to Masters, Roxane.
You and I are in a similar boat. I joined Masters in early November last year after 30+ years away from swimming. But, here is where our similarities end.
Personally, I think you're overdoing things a bit and your body is telling you so. I admire your tenacity, but I'm afraid you are going to injure yourself if you continue at your "ambitious" pace. :)
Give yourself time to get back into swimming shape. I've opted not to race in meets because I know I will work myself too hard and will end up injured. I've been swimming consistantly (3 to 4 times per week, 2000-2500 meters per session) over the past 2 and a half months, and so far, I always feel better from having been in the water.
Be good to yourself and don't let the pressure of having entered the meet get in the way of your physical health.
Yes, give yourself some time, plenty of it. You've been out of the water for 32 years. Let's just assume you are 32 years old. I am 32 years old, and I have been back at it with the master's team for almost 2 years now, and I am finally starting to feel great. Great in the sense that, I can add more IM to my workouts and keep up with the pace, without "cheating" by swimming free instead of fly, back, and ***. For the past year or so, I have felt good. Good in the sense that I was swimming regularly with my team, keeping pace, building my cardio baseline, and transforming non-swimming muscles into swimming muscles.
To be back at it for as short of a time span as you say, I would NOT get discourage if you are sore. Keep working at it, week after week. If you're too tired to swim, or too sore, take a day or two off, go jogging, walking, lift, ect. Swimming takes time, and you don't want to burn out by jumping in too fast.
As for the swimmeet. While on paper, 50 back and 100 IM don't sound that difficult, when you sprint these, you'll be plenty tired. My first meet, I swam the 50, 100, and 200 free. By the 200 free, I was light-headed and had no energy reserves.
It's all a learning experience at this point. Stay at it. Set yourself goals that are achievable, and don't compare yourself to anyone else. In three months, see what you can do compared to three months ago, and continue with that. For example, three months ago, I could do 5 x 100s on 1:XX. Today, I can do 5 x 100s on 1:XX- 2 seconds. Three months from now I will hope to be able to do 7 x 100s on 1:XX - 4 seconds. Next year, I will try and swim the 3000 postal, ect, ect.
Welcome back! Best of luck to you.
I'm in agreement with what is being said about taking it easy at the start. I only had a 20yr layoff and my first swim workout I managed 400yds and got out. I also did a swim meet after only "preparing" for 2 weeks. I survived the meet and it was a lot of fun. For me the main thing was going through the motions to remind myself what it felt like to race again, and also to get some base times to work from. If you go out nice and easy, then you're sure to make improvement in the meets afterwards. As an aside, if your goggles come off, just pull them down to your neck and keep swimming. That happens even to some of us who have only known racing with goggles :D
I just want to encourage you to hang in there. If your competitive, It will be a challenge to get back "in shape". I agree with Bam, Set yourself baby goals that you can attain.
If you remember when you swam 32 years ago and were in shape, even missing one week of training can set you back two - three weeks to get it back.
Go to the meet and have fun! Don't take the fly leg out too fast, in fact cruise slowly then build through the last three strokes.
:2cents:
Thanks all for your kind and encouraging responses. I do rest during workouts when I need to, and when I know that I can't swim one more stroke-I don't. I had planned to go in on Thursday to do an easy 500 or so and work on some turns, but I think that I'll just save that for Friday. Thanks again.
You just missed a good thread that talks about many of these issues -- and how important it is to build up gradually.
Going from no swimming for 32 years...
then two weeks of 3x per week practices...
then a meet!
well, this is not exactly what I would call gradual. Ambitious, definitely. But not gradual!
If you have a chance, check out advice given here. I do think it will help you. Don't think in terms of weeks or even months. The benefits of swimming lasts for years and decades, and rushing to get up to speed too soon is a recipe for injury that will sideline you and weaken your will to continue.
Take it easy and build up slowly, and it will become one of the nicest aspects of your life.
How fast should I build up yardage? - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
My layoff was 27 years minus some swimming fitness binges here and there. I also signed up for my first meet back with not much prep. I felt like I had to post some times to motivate myself. It was hard, but you know you can swim 100 yards so what's the big deal. The great thing is you will be able to show marked improvement next time. Now 18 months later I am a junkie.
