Hi everyone,
I'm looking for ideas for near/medium/long term goals to set for myself.
I'm 28 and got back into swimming about 5 months ago. Previously I swam for a club team when I was 12. I swim by myself and get in to the pool 4x a week and run 2-3x a week (on off days). A typical workout for me is 3x500 freestyle and then a couple hundred in kicking.
I would like to get a lot faster and swim a lot farther. Swimming as fast as I can, I manage a 34 second 50. I swim a 500 in ~11 min. I can breathe bilaterally and do flip turns in my freestyle sets (it took me a few months to get those into my workouts because I didn't have the cardiovascular system to handle both for a long time).
What are some milestones that you've set for yourself? What skills/times should a beginner be able to accomplish? How about an intermediate swimmer?
Thanks,
Nick
Former Member
Break 30 seconds in the 50, and one minute in the 100 (Yards) Pick your stroke.
Just so you don't get disheartened, I've been at this Masters swimming lark for 10+ years on & off, have never gone under 1 minute for 100 yards free, and went sub 30 yesterday on a 50 for the very 1st time!
Lots of good advice here though, keep swimming, keep enjoying it :)
Former Member
Break 30 seconds in the 50, and one minute in the 100 (Yards) Pick your stroke.
Former Member
It's awesome to hear about where everyone started from and how you got to where you are. For me, as a beginner, it keeps me motivated.
Some days I get in the pool and swim and feel really beat up and slow. Those days are hard because I feel like I'm not getting any better. Then other days, I get in and I feel like I can keep going. I think the general trend is upwards though. I'm just getting bored with doing 500's.
I think I'm going to set some interval goals. I will try 10x100's. I've found that I can't sustain a high pace for a very long time. Today I did 1x500 then 5x50's just for fun and mustered about a :54 but felt really winded/tired by the end of the set. I think my cardio system is still lacking. I wish I could improve it faster.
I think I will shoot for 10x100 with 20 sec rest to figure out a conservative send off time and work with that.
On filming:
1. Any suggestions for filming swimming underwater?
2. What angles are most useful for critique and if the person stays stationary, will they be able to film enough of the stroke?
3. Should I film when I'm fresh (best form) or when I'm midway through my workout and my form is getting sloppy?
You guys are amazing.
PS: couldbebetterfly, congrats on the sub 30 50. That's fantastic.
Former Member
How did that 500 go?
Painful! I'll drop into the mid-distance lane later and give you a full run down :)
went sub 30 yesterday on a 50 for the very 1st time!
Good going!
How did that 500 go?
Former Member
Here's a link to a site for triathletes:
www.swimsmooth.com/training.html
It gives some solid guidance on how to estimate what kind of workout to start from - and what times to shoot for, based on how you swim now.
Former Member
I am very much a beginner at this, it has been it has been 15 years since I last swam competitively - which breaks down to about 3 or 4 pounds a year extra weight I gained during that time - So I have my work cut out for me.
Short Term
Already started dropping weight, and can do broken sets of 1,500 or more yards. I would like to get comfortable doing a good 3,000 yard set, and a continuous 1,000.
Mid
Compete and establish some baseline times, hopefully somewhat respectable times - although I have pretty realistic expectations in all 50's, 100's, 200 IM, 200 Free/back, and 500. (I am looking to do this in about a year - hopefully a little less).
Long
Keep at it, and hopefully start dropping some time, and maybe get to a level where I can be somewhat competitive.
Former Member
If you want technique advice post a video.
Would you want this taken from the deck or under water?
