Getting back into it/Getting someone else into it - need advice
Former Member
Hi guys!!
I am new to these boards and was absolutely enthralled to see the workouts day-by-day posted above! I have some questions (of course... what noobie doesnt??) but first I wanted to give a little background. :D I am 26 years old and caught the swimming bug (again) after watching the amazing performances at the olympics. I used to swim competitively for many years for a team called West Florida Lightning Aquatics and then in high school as well. Obviously, its been a few (OK alot) of years since then and the college I work for now doesnt even have a club - let alone a team. The closest Masters group is a good 45min drive from what I can see. (grumble).
Looks like I will be going it alone when I get back in the pool at least for a while. :( Needless to say, after so many years I have forgotten alot (or at least I think I have). Also, my husband has always expressed at least a bit of interest in swimming, but has never been in a competitive environment at all. He is "built like a swimmer" and I would be really interested to see what he could do in the pool. :)
OK- done with my oversharing. :) On to my questions for you guys. I have a few....
Where to start back in to it? What kind of workout should I be looking at for my first few weeks back in the pool?
What kind of dry land training do you do/reccomend? We have been going to the gym and working mostly with free weights, but what sort of excersizes are best to build up speed/efficiency?
What sort of workout should my husband be doing? He does not know how to do butterfly or flip turns yet.
Can he get away with wearing a baggy, recreational swim suit for at least a while until he knows he wants to continue? I dont want to have to buy a suit he might not use, but if its neccesary, will.
Are kickboards, pull buoys, fins and paddles neccesary?
Thank you so much in advance for any advice you can give us!
Parents
Former Member
Thanks for all the fabulous input!
I think what turned the switch in my head was watching the Olympics and for some reason the memories of meets and practices really invaded my head. Remembering when I would practically "live" to hear "take your mark - HONK!" I'm sure you know what I mean...
:cool:
I too was always in it to beat PRs from meet to meet- and still would be interested to get out the old sheets and see where I was at peak. I think now I would be in it for the fitness and, yes still the meets and competition. I don't think swimming and boredom have ever fallen into the same soup pot to me... (another reason I would like to get off treadmill and into the pool. Running IS boring. Why this revelation now- no idea.)
I live in Oviedo - just north of Orlando, literally minutes away from the University of Central Florida. I did (shortly after reading your post) end up finding out that there is a Masters group at the pool just up the road from me- but their website listed morning practice times, which has never worked out for me in the past.... However the site also appeared to be from 2002?? I am putting my hand up here- anyone reading my droning here that swims for Oviedo? Anybody know a local swim shop to get my guy a non-parachute suit? :)
I also must point out (I know it isnt a Masters thing, really) but I think it is absolutely sacrelige that UCF does not have a swim team. I think all Florida schools should be obligated- you know? UCF does have a pool, and I plan on getting in and getting my feel for the water back some before becoming a fee-paying, card-carrying USS or USMS member- just to be sure - you know what I mean?
At this point, I really don't know what kind of goals would be realistic for myself -or my husband. I know he would like to know how to flip turn and do fly, so those are good places to start for him. :) but for me? What kind of basic goal should I have??
Edit To Add: Never thought about Pilates being important for swimmers!
Thanks for listening and thanks again for the advice....
Thanks for all the fabulous input!
I think what turned the switch in my head was watching the Olympics and for some reason the memories of meets and practices really invaded my head. Remembering when I would practically "live" to hear "take your mark - HONK!" I'm sure you know what I mean...
:cool:
I too was always in it to beat PRs from meet to meet- and still would be interested to get out the old sheets and see where I was at peak. I think now I would be in it for the fitness and, yes still the meets and competition. I don't think swimming and boredom have ever fallen into the same soup pot to me... (another reason I would like to get off treadmill and into the pool. Running IS boring. Why this revelation now- no idea.)
I live in Oviedo - just north of Orlando, literally minutes away from the University of Central Florida. I did (shortly after reading your post) end up finding out that there is a Masters group at the pool just up the road from me- but their website listed morning practice times, which has never worked out for me in the past.... However the site also appeared to be from 2002?? I am putting my hand up here- anyone reading my droning here that swims for Oviedo? Anybody know a local swim shop to get my guy a non-parachute suit? :)
I also must point out (I know it isnt a Masters thing, really) but I think it is absolutely sacrelige that UCF does not have a swim team. I think all Florida schools should be obligated- you know? UCF does have a pool, and I plan on getting in and getting my feel for the water back some before becoming a fee-paying, card-carrying USS or USMS member- just to be sure - you know what I mean?
At this point, I really don't know what kind of goals would be realistic for myself -or my husband. I know he would like to know how to flip turn and do fly, so those are good places to start for him. :) but for me? What kind of basic goal should I have??
Edit To Add: Never thought about Pilates being important for swimmers!
Thanks for listening and thanks again for the advice....
