Getting back into swimming shape

When I started (or should I say restarted) swimming, I began by just swimming easy laps. At first just getting to the other end of the pool may seem difficult, but it gets easier. The key is to swim regularly. When you can swim, let's say 1000 yards easily, you might want to think about doing some interval workouts.

I have done this slack off start up slack off start up ... cycle many times. What I have found is that a structured workout with a coach works best, the first few practices should be only about 30-40 minutes long, and you have to keep up with it on a regular basis. The pain and soreness do go away after a couple of weeks, you just have to bite the bullet and do it.

Thanks for responding. I really like working out with a team. However, the closest masters team is 50 minutes away and that just ain't gonna happen. Our rec. dept. tried to have a team, but the swimmers involved didn't want to swim as a team. They just wanted someone to write a workout for them. And then they would change the sets because they didn't like "that stroke". So, I have been trying to swim with a couple of friends. They are faster than me, which is good because I will push myself a bit harder. But our schedules only work every so often. That leaves it up to me. Thanks again for your suggestions!

Well then the next best thing to a coached workout is a written workout. Check out the workouts section here. I know Mike Collins posts workouts on a regular basis and he's a great coach! His workouts have a great variety and you shouldn't get bored or burnt out if you stick to them.

As someone getting back in the water after an extended layoff, I have found the workouts a great place to start. They are easily modifiable to your condition level and facilities that are available. Go with your strengths. Personnaly I was a middle distance br/fl person. So, I started by cutting down the distance free stuff, but have slowly added some of that back in. Its amazing how fast you'll build up from doing a 1000 y/m workout to 2000+.

I agree with everyone above. I took the past year of competitve swimming do to a rotator cuff tear. You just have to ease yourself back into the routine slowly and consistantly. As to not having a Masters Team in the area...have you called the local YMCA or YWCA? They may not always have a coach for their club, but they usually supply workouts. (If that makes since.) If that club has regulars, you will have that encouragement. And finally as to your faster friends...there are two kinds of swimmers...distance and sprinters. As long as you finish, it doesn't matter how long it takes you. Happy Swimming!:p Heather

I too took a long time off from swimming. After college and a few years of masters I had not swam for more than ten years. I was too busy competing as a national level trap shooter to find the time to swim. I was in a terrible car accident two years ago that severed both my feet and left me needing some way to stay in shape besides running. I started swimming again last February and found that it was terribly difficult at first. Afterall I had done nothing at all for more than six months while I was in the hospital. I was surprised that within a month I could swim a 5000m workout again. I am not nearly as fast as I once was and I still struggle a bit with the distance fly and IM I once found so easy. Find a workout on the usms site that you like and stick to it as closely as you can. I found that to be the best thing for me. I too often have to workout by myself. The workouts keep me motivated and returning to the pool everyday. Good luck! :cool: