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 keep a workout log, run/walk, bike, swim, pushups, squats, I log whatever I do daily, so I can then scan the past month or two to see where I'm at. Whether I'm doing more or less than last month. Whether times are improving or not. Whatever. Having a daily record is enough feedback so that I'm never in doubt.
I'm doing the 200 I'm and 100 yard breastroke and 400 yard freestyle at the local senior Olympics. They have 400 instead of 500. I did it since its the last event and more of a warmdown. I did a 59 50 fly from a dive and a 55 breaststroke and 46 or 47 freestyle 50 yard from a dive I jumped a little early from the pace clock. I did not time the back but it helps me as an idea of the strokes I will swim like I'm and breastroke.
I train solo because of a) location to a local Master's club b) time of day that I can train c) other reasons ($$$$$). I have not swam a competitive pool meet since college (I am in my 50s now) and am being a bit of a chicken going to a USMS swim meet because of the start and turns. The last time I did a flip turn was 30 years ago. The last time I entered the pool from a starting block was 30 years ago. Suggestions for how to get over this mind block without looking really stupid at a meet?
I'm kind of the same. I train solo because of my work schedule. I also use a gym with a lap pool that is 24 hours, so it's open when my local aquatic center is closed. I haven't swam competitively since I was in high school, and my first year of college. It was a little rough to
get back into the habit of swimming daily after being out of the game for so long. But not I'm glad I'm back at it.
Well, had to get another MRI yesterday for that pinched tendon in my right shoulder. It's pretty sore and it's been keeping me out of the pool (I'm not one of those people who can swim on one side. I just can't stay afloat). I see the doc on Wednesday and hoping he doesn't tell me I need another surgery. Pfffffffft on that.:bitching:
I swim by myself, as do the majority of adult swimmers at my pool. At 5am, we’re a pretty introverted crowd. The regulars at the time I swim mostly focus on freestyle distance swimming; I like to do all four strokes.
There is a masters swim, but it doesn’t suit my needs. However I do occasionally come across individuals close enough to my level who extend invitations to swim, and it really does make it more interesting and fun.
I train solo because of a) location to a local Master's club b) time of day that I can train c) other reasons ($$$$$). 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 never swim competitively before and learned to really swim recently (did the Army breaststroke and sidestroke in the infantry’, yet I did enter one competitive meet with my Masters Workout Group. I had a great time and would do it again. Take the chance.
By the way, I now can swim in the ocean for at least two to two and a half miles, albeit slowly.
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Well, had to get another MRI yesterday for that pinched tendon in my right shoulder. It's pretty sore and it's been keeping me out of the pool (I'm not one of those people who can swim on one side. I just can't stay afloat). I see the doc on Wednesday and hoping he doesn't tell me I need another surgery. Pfffffffft on that.:bitching:
Good luck, Denise! Let us know what he says about the MRI. I'm hoping the best for you!
I ended my rotten swim year (thanks to non-swimming injuries and illness) on a happy note last Sunday winning the high points award for my age group. I thought there were six of us in the 55-59 age group, at the St. Nick's meet at Georgia Tech; however, I just checked out the full results and there were nine. I won all five of my races and ended up with 100 points. Mind you, three of my races were uncontested; however, I did beat out four others in the 50 breaststroke. :wiggle: My race times? Don't even ask! :censor:
Kudos to Sean Fitzgerald of the Atlanta Rainbow Trout for having the coolest trophies EVER: Snow globes with a gold swimmer on a starting block. www.facebook.com/photo.php
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Same to you.
Need to pray for any doctor that sets a week (or two for the big stuff) for being out of the pool. That's just wrong. Especially any one that argues for longer time without a medical researched reason. :)
Regarding your previous post, I'm sorry you are having surgery. I wish you the best with a speedy recovery?
I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you are saying in this post (regarding praying for a doctor). Which doctor are you referring to in this post. Denise's doctor? Your doctor?
After my hip surgery, my doctor ordered me to stay out of the pool until the stitches were removed and the incision healed. This was to avoid infection-- very important! This process takes longer than a week, and it is imperative to follow doctor's orders on this. Once he removed the stitches and everything looked good, I was allowed back in the pool with a "no kicking" order for the next two months. My pull buoy became my new best friend.
For Denise, I'm guessing she will be allowed back in the pool to kick, once the incision is healed and the stitches are out.
Unless you are a medically qualified, saying a doctor is "just wrong" is, in my opinion, not a fair statement.
