Since most of us aren't teenagers any more, I'm pretty sure a large masters population is having to overcome all kinds of health issues on order to getin shape, and go as far as competing.
I was starting to get pretty competetive 4-5 years ago and setting a lot of PB's, when in my mid to late 30's I got slammed with a lot of health issues, couple of which (ick) caused a lot of rapid heart rate even at rest, and made me very exercise intolerant. Some of this is getting under control, other things I just have to live with, and accept I can't push as hard as I used to :(
I have a genetic blood disorder, thallasemia, which manifests itself in my case an untreatable chronic anemia, fast thyroid causing heartbeat irregularities (and other things), and one of arthritic conditions, scleroderma. In last couple years I'm just starting to figure out how to handle my newly dysfunctional body, and still keep active. It's been a very disheartening struggle, since at 40, I'm supposedly too young to be falling apart. Eh!
I'd like to hear from people who are having to manage their health issues, so they can keep swimming, and even competing... I'm hoping this can be motivating to a *few* people.
My "health issue" is my weight (280 lbs and 6'0" tall) and age (55), and perhaps a heart issue. My doctor recommended a stress test for me, but I have a $2000 deductible with my insurance, and the stress test is about half that, so I'm foregoing he stress test for now.
I decided to get back to swimming, for the first time in 25 years (I'm new to this site). I swim at my local LA Fitness, and have been doing so for nearly 6 weeks. I've found that what I can do now is a very small fraction of what I could do at age 18. Back then I could swim 4000 meters in less than an hour, but I now find swimming that distance, in a week, to be exhausting. QUOTE]
Take care of your health first - I'd listen to your doctor and get the stress test. I know its expensive, but you need to be careful. Swimming will help with the other issues with weight, cholorestrol and the BP - it did for me. I started out doing 45 min 2500 yard sessions and now, two years later, I'm up to about 3700-4000 in an hour and 15mins - and could be doing more iin that time, but I take extra time between sets to stretch a lot. Don't sweat the "what I could do at 18" versus now stuff - enjoy the time swimming. During the summer I can use the outdoor pool to train and I'm usually the only on in first thing in the morning (opens at 5 am) for the first 30-40 mins and I really find that time to be a great mental health break.
Good luck
My "health issue" is my weight (280 lbs and 6'0" tall) and age (55), and perhaps a heart issue. My doctor recommended a stress test for me, but I have a $2000 deductible with my insurance, and the stress test is about half that, so I'm foregoing he stress test for now.
I decided to get back to swimming, for the first time in 25 years (I'm new to this site). I swim at my local LA Fitness, and have been doing so for nearly 6 weeks. I've found that what I can do now is a very small fraction of what I could do at age 18. Back then I could swim 4000 meters in less than an hour, but I now find swimming that distance, in a week, to be exhausting. QUOTE]
Take care of your health first - I'd listen to your doctor and get the stress test. I know its expensive, but you need to be careful. Swimming will help with the other issues with weight, cholorestrol and the BP - it did for me. I started out doing 45 min 2500 yard sessions and now, two years later, I'm up to about 3700-4000 in an hour and 15mins - and could be doing more iin that time, but I take extra time between sets to stretch a lot. Don't sweat the "what I could do at 18" versus now stuff - enjoy the time swimming. During the summer I can use the outdoor pool to train and I'm usually the only on in first thing in the morning (opens at 5 am) for the first 30-40 mins and I really find that time to be a great mental health break.
Good luck
