What Are Your 2020 Swim Goals?

Get stronger - Starting doing push ups this month everyday Complete the Lido race in April (first marathon distance for me) Complete the True Width Lake Tahoe swim in August

I've updated my signature. :) When I first started swimming in Feb 2019, I dreamed of sub 6min 400m at 60. (I'm 57.) I rapidly improved to 6:15 in September, and I changed my goal to sub 6min by the end of 2019. But then came The Great Stall, followed by shoulder soreness and staleness. It occurred to me that I had been going non-stop since Feb, and I needed a break. So I'm dreaming about sub 6min by the end of 2020 now. The seconds got a whole lot bigger!! :) There is a great article and study about initial pulling/hand position vs. shoulder position and the impact on shoulder impingement, soreness and injury in the October 2019 issue of Swimming World. Basically, make sure your hand is lower than your shoulder when you pull (especially at the beginning of the pull) to avoid unwanted compaction stress in the shoulder joint.

At the top of my age group this year - stay even with my times.

I'm not making any goals until my first meet of the year at the end of Jan. Had a lot happen last year with my health and shifting priorities so I'm pretty slow right now but hopefully back on track more or less. My goals for this winter season were 2:00 200 fly and 2:10 200 *** by Spring Nats, but again, we'll see what the first meet brings and if I will have to recalibrate. In 2019, I started swimming again and went from 350 pounds to 225 pounds. My 1650 went from a 28:52 to a 19:46. In 2020, I’d like to get the weight under 200 and the mile under 18:30. Wow. This is crazy awesome progress. Thanks, I'll check that out. My shoulders seem good now. I should add that by the end of 2020, I'm dreaming of doing other distances at the same level as 5:59 400m. (Basically, the SC WR x 59%.) So, hopefully a sub16 for 25m, 34.3 for 50m, 1:16.2 for 100m, 2:48.4 for 200m, 12:31 for 800m, 23:57 for 1500m. Most of these times are roughly twice what I can do now. Ie 50m at current 25m pace, 100m at current 50m pace, etc etc. This is realistic, right? Swimgods? :) The only one I'd think might be iffy is holding last year's 400 pace for an 800. That's a pretty big difference in race.

I have 3 goals: 1. to get my marathon swimming time (10 km) under 3:40 (in conjunction with my goal to complete a marathon run (42.195 km) under 3:40) 2. complete an ultra-marathon race of at least 16 km 3. qualify for the Hong Kong cross-harbour race

There is a great article and study about initial pulling/hand position vs. shoulder position and the impact on shoulder impingement, soreness and injury in the October 2019 issue of Swimming World. Basically, make sure your hand is lower than your shoulder when you pull (especially at the beginning of the pull) to avoid unwanted compaction stress in the shoulder joint. Thanks, I'll check that out. My shoulders seem good now. I should add that by the end of 2020, I'm dreaming of doing other distances at the same level as 5:59 400m. (Basically, the SC WR x 59%.) So, hopefully a sub16 for 25m, 34.3 for 50m, 1:16.2 for 100m, 2:48.4 for 200m, 12:31 for 800m, 23:57 for 1500m. Most of these times are roughly twice what I can do now. Ie 50m at current 25m pace, 100m at current 50m pace, etc etc. This is realistic, right? Swimgods? :)

"The only one I'd think might be iffy is holding last year's 400 pace for an 800. That's a pretty big difference in race." When I did 12:50 I went 6:27/6:23....and yet I have only done 6:14 for 400m. I'm either much better at 800m or my current 400m should actually be 6:08. I'd like to think the latter. :)

1. Move to FL (TPA or JAX areas) and get on a good Master's team. (Looking for a job in project management and/or aviation if you have any leads.) 2. Get back in enough shape to compete in state Sr Olympics. Maybe get in enough shape to break the TN AG records for 200, 500 free? 3. Get at least one OWS on the calendar and enjoy it (St Croix or Grendadines are first choices). This is dependent on #1 though. :)

1. Move to FL (TPA or JAX areas) and get on a good Master's team. (Looking for a job in project management and/or aviation if you have any leads.)Have you considered the Phoenix area as a warm alternative, with a big airport and Southwest and American Airlines there ... but more importantly - Mesa Aquatic Club, Swim Devil Masters and Phoenix Swim Club - three big Masters teams each with access to gorgeous 50m x 25 yard pools?

My goals are simple - after a massive year of transition in 2019 (moved to Canada, changed jobs twice) - Get into a steady training habit so that I actually have some semblance of a 'base' to taper from at Canadian Masters Nationals at the end of May. See what my results are. Train over the summer so I can reasonably race - long course! :afraid: - a 200 fly and 400 IM back in the town I grew up in for USMS Summer Nationals in Richmond.