Hi! I'm Elaine, a brand new USMS member located in Griffin, Georgia. Like many other members, I haven't competed since high school (1979). High school was my only competitive swimming experience and my "coach" was a P.E. teacher who didn't know how to swim- literally! Needless to say, I need a lot of help! Although I swam varsity, my best 100yd Breastroke was only 1:19.6. That is the only swim time I remember... (A recent 50yd Breastroke time was :42, diving in from the edge of the pool, due to no starting blocks, and being time by my husband.)
I would like to compete in a USMS meet on 3/27 and would appreciate advice for getting ready. I started swimming, again, last June, after moving into an adult community (Sun City Peachtree) with an indoor 25 yard pool. Until joining USMS, I was doing workouts totalling 2500 yds., every other day. A typical workout (just for fun and fitness) was:
500 free- easy- 10 min.
500 free- 8 min.
100 IM
100 back
100 ***
(no times on the above)
200 kicks- all strokes (that's it, because I don't find it as much fun as pull buoy) work!
5x100IM pull buoy (didn't time them)
500 free pull buoy- 8 min.
Mess around for a little bit of cool down...
Since it was just for fun and we don't have a clock, I didn't time much of my workout. But, I would typically get it done in 1 hour.
I've stepped up my workouts in the last few sessions to 3,000 yds. and I'm using a watch for sprint work. Any advice for workouts to do over the next month, based on my ability (as detailed above)?
Swimming every day is not an option, because I have had serious repetitive stress injuries (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and herniated disk in back- work related) and surgeries. Been there, done that; don't want to do it again. Instead, on alternate days, I do a 11/2 gym workout, including 50 minutes total of treadmill (4.2mph), elliptical (122 strides/min), and recumbant bike. That is followed by lower body weights and hand weights, as well as 200 various crunches and stretching. (I vary it, but the above is a typical workout).
Where do I go from here? So far, I have had my husband video my strokes, so I could compare them to You Tube videos. Hopefully, that is helping, because I do not have a coach. The nearest team is a 45 minute drive away and they workout at night; not good for me. So, I joined "unattached" and I'm on my own.
Workout advice would be great! I would also appreciate advice as to how to handle meet day. How much do I warm up before my events? I would like to compete in all breaststroke events.
Thanks!
Elaine
Heidi,
Thanks for your reply and warm welcome! When I joined USMS, I was going to sign up with the Southside Seals, in Peachtree City, however, the team wasn't listed as an option. I need to call and find out why, because I would like to swim on relay teams at meets.
Thanks for the invite to come up to Emory, but that's a bit of a hike for me! Peachtree City is far enough, but it's even further getting to Emory. I just don't want to do that much driving, unless it's for a meet. Thanks though! I'll probably get out to Peachtree City from time to time...
As soon as I signed up for Masters, I altered my swim workouts. I have only had two since signing up, but I increased the yardage to 3,000 yds (1:20 minutes) and did the following:
500 free warm-up
10x50yd breaststroke sprints (:46-:52 with 30 seconds rest in between- I needed it!)
5x50 breastroke pull buoy
5x50 breastroke kick
The remaining 1,500 yds was IM's and misc. So, I'm increasing my breastroke... Any other advice?
Thanks!!
Elaine
Heidi,
Thanks for your reply and warm welcome! When I joined USMS, I was going to sign up with the Southside Seals, in Peachtree City, however, the team wasn't listed as an option. I need to call and find out why, because I would like to swim on relay teams at meets.
Thanks for the invite to come up to Emory, but that's a bit of a hike for me! Peachtree City is far enough, but it's even further getting to Emory. I just don't want to do that much driving, unless it's for a meet. Thanks though! I'll probably get out to Peachtree City from time to time...
As soon as I signed up for Masters, I altered my swim workouts. I have only had two since signing up, but I increased the yardage to 3,000 yds (1:20 minutes) and did the following:
500 free warm-up
10x50yd breaststroke sprints (:46-:52 with 30 seconds rest in between- I needed it!)
5x50 breastroke pull buoy
5x50 breastroke kick
The remaining 1,500 yds was IM's and misc. So, I'm increasing my breastroke... Any other advice?
Thanks!!
Elaine