Hey, solo swimmers! :wave: Welcome to the thread for all of us who train solo. Whether you train on your own due to a lack of a Masters team in your area (or for any other reason), this is our virtual locker room. Please post training tips that you think would be helpful, or anything else you would like to share with the rest of us. Have a rant? Go ahead and vent here! :rantonoff:
I'll start with a tip:
The most frustrating thing for me training solo is not having a coach on deck to evaluate my stroke and keep me on track, so I bought a waterproof camera and enlisted the help of my husband to periodically shoot video of all four strokes. Shooting underwater video became a knee/back buster, so I bought a camera mount and attached it to PVC pipe, so my husband could stand up straight to shoot underwater video. The camera gets dunked underwater, and he twists the pipe to pan the camera as I swim by.
Today, I bought a 2-pack of 12-inch "Gear Tie" reusable rubber twist ties (available at Home Depot), so I can tie the PVC pipe to the pool ladder (located in the corner of the pool) and shoot video myself. (If I angle the camera just right and keep it on wide angle, I can video me coming and going.)
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After each video session, I upload the videos to my desktop computer and compare my stroke to my favorite Go Swim stroke videos to see what I'm doing well (or not). I also post them on the Forums for feedback.
Ok, solo swimmers, what's your tip?
I train solo because of a) location to a local Master's club b) time of day that I can train c) other reasons ($$$$$). I have not swam a competitive pool meet since college (I am in my 50s now) and am being a bit of a chicken going to a USMS swim meet because of the start and turns. The last time I did a flip turn was 30 years ago. The last time I entered the pool from a starting block was 30 years ago. Suggestions for how to get over this mind block without looking really stupid at a meet?
I've not been to a meet where everyone goes off the blocks for whatever reason (age, handicap, etc.). You kinda have a couple of groups: those who set records and those who are there for other reasons (fun, fitness, just want to get back in the grind). I've been at meets where people have missed their events because they were chatting. You are not the only one who has trouble with flip turns. It is true mostly for those older, but when it comes down push to shove, unless you are swimming against a personal rival, no one really pays attention. You don't find a lot of memory either. There is more "good" judgement than bad. I say that as someone who didn't learn to swim as a kid and I've seen a good amount of people who will encourage or help you with tips or comments vs. give you a bad shoulder. There are a few, don't get me wrong, but it honestly has to come down to going to a local meet and swimming a few to see how good the vibes are. Actually those who are older, have more problems, you'll see those are the ones who are encouraged. Last year I talked a couple of people (well 3) ladies to swim in a meet, 1 of which hadn't done it before. I'm in a different club this year and 2 out of the 3 showed up to swim this year, with none of the guys showing up. All by themselves, they had a good time enough to come back. The third one has both kids in separate sports that suck up a lot of time, so I'm not surprised as she had quit swimming after the meet last year.
That's the extent of the encouragement I can give you. How about showing up to a meet without swimming and seeing what goes on? The nice thing about meets is that they give you an idea of where you are at, times, and how to get more proficient. That's something I like about them. If there is something I'm missing in practice, it comes at the meet so I can work on it.
I train solo because of a) location to a local Master's club b) time of day that I can train c) other reasons ($$$$$). I have not swam a competitive pool meet since college (I am in my 50s now) and am being a bit of a chicken going to a USMS swim meet because of the start and turns. The last time I did a flip turn was 30 years ago. The last time I entered the pool from a starting block was 30 years ago. Suggestions for how to get over this mind block without looking really stupid at a meet?
I've not been to a meet where everyone goes off the blocks for whatever reason (age, handicap, etc.). You kinda have a couple of groups: those who set records and those who are there for other reasons (fun, fitness, just want to get back in the grind). I've been at meets where people have missed their events because they were chatting. You are not the only one who has trouble with flip turns. It is true mostly for those older, but when it comes down push to shove, unless you are swimming against a personal rival, no one really pays attention. You don't find a lot of memory either. There is more "good" judgement than bad. I say that as someone who didn't learn to swim as a kid and I've seen a good amount of people who will encourage or help you with tips or comments vs. give you a bad shoulder. There are a few, don't get me wrong, but it honestly has to come down to going to a local meet and swimming a few to see how good the vibes are. Actually those who are older, have more problems, you'll see those are the ones who are encouraged. Last year I talked a couple of people (well 3) ladies to swim in a meet, 1 of which hadn't done it before. I'm in a different club this year and 2 out of the 3 showed up to swim this year, with none of the guys showing up. All by themselves, they had a good time enough to come back. The third one has both kids in separate sports that suck up a lot of time, so I'm not surprised as she had quit swimming after the meet last year.
That's the extent of the encouragement I can give you. How about showing up to a meet without swimming and seeing what goes on? The nice thing about meets is that they give you an idea of where you are at, times, and how to get more proficient. That's something I like about them. If there is something I'm missing in practice, it comes at the meet so I can work on it.
