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.
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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.
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.
