Getting back to the best

How would any of you recommend getting fit enough to train? Cardio at the gym? Swimming? Swim Swim with a team, preferably an intense age group team if you really want to be at your peak 19 is young, especially for a guy; with training, you should not only get back in shape quickly, you should have no problem (assuming you're willing to work as hard as you say you are) getting faster very soon Add drylands / weights as appropriate for your events. For example, if you're only targeting the 1500, I wouldn't waste too much time on weights (some, but not too much). If you're aiming to be a sprinter, hit the gym hard but with a swimming-specific program. Dave Salo's book is a great place to start -- search.barnesandnoble.com/.../9780736072427

Gee, you hardly seem 2-3 stone overweight, but isn't 14.5 stone more like 92 kg? Not saying that's ideal, but I don't know if you need to lose that much weight... There's a saying that "you need to swim fast to swim fast." Slow, steady fitness swimming isn't going to make you faster. You need to swim fast when you train. pwb's advice is spot on for you.

Hi there, i definitely felt that i lost my "speed", is that just because of lack of training or is it age? Im 19 now and .Definately your age since your getting up there

Its 2-3 stone of fat, very little muscle atm. Thanks for the advice, im going to hit the uni pool on my own until im good enough shape to contact a club here and get in. Nice to know you think 19 is still an age to come back from, would love to see what im capable of. All the best.

Hi there, I gave up competitive swimming age 15 and continued fitness for another 2 years, however in that time i definitely felt that i lost my "speed", is that just because of lack of training or is it age? Lack of training. Most athletes don't physically peak until their 20's and there's a case to be made for the 30's as well. A little bit tougher to measure for swimmers though. After college the opportunities for making a living off swimming are few and far between, so most people have to join the work force. But looking at professional sports, many people are successful in the 30's and even 40's occasionally. You'll be fine if you train enough.

Welcome Back to swimming What are your events? What are your goals? What's the best you've been? How are you training now? Please give us more info I was a 100-400 freestyle swimmer. My goal is to become a top 5 swimmer in Scotland ( i understand this is a US site, less help/turnover on the UK sites) I was around 58 seconds per 100 meters age 14, which was enough to put me in the top 10. However i didnt make near enough of the chances given. I just used my talent to get me there with little training. I've made a rough plan of action to swim 3-4 times a week supplemented with gym work, mostly cardio. Then at new year approach my local club and get into a fitness squad there and finally join the competitive squads. Its a shame i cant run any more because of shin splints, it was an excellent way to keep fit.

There are people here who were out of the water for 20 years and are swimming fast now. Getting back into it at 19 will be a piece of cake. It just all depends how committed you are!

Welcome Back to swimming What are your events? What are your goals? What's the best you've been? How are you training now? Please give us more info Here's some info that might help you. Swim Faster Faster has a lot of info that can help you here's some of my FAVE & most helpful tips ASK ANDE MY BLOGS Current my old blog Mar 05 - Sep 08

Welcome Back to swimming What are your events? What are your goals? What's the best you've been? How are you training now? Please give us more info I was a 100-400 freestyle swimmer. My goal is to become a top 5 swimmer in Scotland ( i understand this is a US site, less help/turnover on the UK sites) I was around 58 seconds per 100 meters age 14, which was enough to put me in the top 10. However i didnt make near enough of the chances given. I just used my talent to get me there with little training. I've made a rough plan of action to swim 3-4 times a week supplemented with gym work, mostly cardio. Then at new year approach my local club and get into a fitness squad there and finally join the competitive squads. Its a shame i cant run any more because of shin splints, it was an excellent way to keep fit. Scottish Gas National S. C. Championships (15-17/01/10) 100 free - 5th Daniel Scott 19 Co Glasgow 50.71 200 free - 5th Jonathan Greig 20 Stirling 1:51.11 400 free - 5th Richard Schafers 18 Co Glasgow 3:56.43 Good luck, that's no joke!