There are times when we all as swimmers, face the obstacle of trainning without the assistance and drive of a coach. In these circumstances how do you cope with the situation? How do you cope with a coach who doesn't really coach?
As a former US swimmer I coach myself on a daily basis. The disadvantages that I have by doing this is the lack of feedback on my strokes and the general push that a coach usually provides. I've had coaches in the past that were lets face it not coaches but merely objects taking space and getting paid for it which is the worst part.
The goal is to stay positive, stay focused, do your best to keep motivated, and set goals.
:agree:
I've been training myself and alone for almost 2-1/2 years now and actually like it.
Jeff, if I may ask: other than providing access to sanctioned events, how useful is USMS membership to you personally? Do you find it offers resources (eg, SWIMMER magazine, access to workouts thru the forums and blogs, online articles, other things) that are valuable to you in pursuing your swimming training/fitness goals?
Or are you a member primarily for access to the competitions?
While I have met some people who train on their own due to necessity (lack of an accessible workout/coach), I haven't met too many who seem to prefer it that way, so I'm interested in your perspective of USMS.
The workouts that you can motivate yourself to do on your own are impressive! I need to have a coach and bodies in the lanes next to me to do that kind of yardage...I've always been impressed by people who train primarily on their own.
Jeff, if I may ask: other than providing access to sanctioned events, how useful is USMS membership to you personally? Do you find it offers resources (eg, SWIMMER magazine, access to workouts thru the forums and blogs, online articles, other things) that are valuable to you in pursuing your swimming training/fitness goals?
Or are you a member primarily for access to the competitions?
While I have met some people who train on their own due to necessity (lack of an accessible workout/coach), I haven't met too many who seem to prefer it that way, so I'm interested in your perspective of USMS.
The workouts that you can motivate yourself to do on your own are impressive! I need to have a coach and bodies in the lanes next to me to do that kind of yardage...I've always been impressed by people who train primarily on their own.
My USMS membership is mostly so I can compete in meets. I'm registered under Dynamo Masters (since I swas Dynamo as a kid), but they are too far from me to train with them. However, I use this site a lot actually for workouts, advice, keep up on the latest in swimming, etc. I also participate in the "Go the Distance" FLOG which is fun and find the Swimmer Magazine informative. Love the meet database and checking where my times rank throught the season. As far as the discounts and all the other perks, its probably good for most, but I "have connections" for suits, equipment, etc. that takes care of all that.
Like the OP stated, goals are really what drives me. I set Nationals back in May as a goal of mine (just to qualify) back in Aug of '08. Right now I'm stuggling a bit due to not having an "end meet" in sight until August at Auburn. I'm not doing SCM and will train through the SCY season. I think I'm gonna have to come up with a SCY shave meet in the Spring as well, since I'm not gonna be going to AZ for Nationals.
Most of the workouts I do are actually from the forum "Quality not Quantity", specifically Patrick Cantrell's workouts. I find those are best for me and the most challenging. I also use some of Sarasota Masters workouts. Sometimes its verbatim, sometimes I'll switch some of the stuff up a bit. I also have logbooks of all my workouts from college and can use those (albeit shortened!).
Training on my own…on a empty swimming pool day after day is wonderful! None to pressure you, none to disturb the water sound, the thoughts, doing only what the body asks…
There are a lot good points to train with a team or a coach but there are also good ones to train on your one. The ones having to train alone not by choice just find the good side of it…..
