Forgive me if this topic has been raised before, but here goes:
I was jogging around my favorite urban lake yesterday thinking about swimming (of course), and I decided that one thing I'd like to do before the end of the year is actually compete in a real live swim meet.
I don't have regular access to an organized swim program because of my work schedule, but I'll happily take any advice on how to train. Currently I'm about 20 lbs. overweight, but I jog regularly and swim about 3 - 4 times a week. Thus far, all my swimming has been for the fun of it.
Any ideas on how I should actually train for a competition? What kind of workout regimen, schedule, etc.?
Now, I know that Masters swimmers are great, wonderful, supportive and not at all hostile to those of us who are complete novices. However, I would like to make a decent showing, even if I finish last in whatever events I swim. (Also, I don't know what meets are coming up at the end of the year, so if anyone has any clue on competitions in the Seattle area, that'd be swell.)
I came up with the idea because I'm training for a 5K road race at the end of July, and asked myself why I "compete" in a sport I only marginally like, while I don't do the same in swimming, which I consider just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. So to speak.
Thanks!
Adam
I recommend Mo Chambers workouts on this site. Easy to understand, and pretty simple to adjust the yardage/intervals to match your abilities and maximum workout times. I find I progress a whole lot faster with structured workouts versus unstructured. I'd like to swim with the local team, but the 6 am workouts don't fit with my kids' current penchant for getting up several times a night, so I swim by myself at lunch.
When I started back in the pool, I began by searching for a workout that I thought sounded easy or fun and swimming as much of it as I could at the time; now 5 months later I just print Mo's workout for the day and swim it whether it sounds fun or easy or otherwise.
I haven't competed since high school (I'm 44), but I'm starting to feel the urge. I won't worry too much about "training" for specific events; I plan to just make sure I can actually complete and/or swim legally whatever I choose to enter and worry about dropping times later.
I see a quite a few of the same folks swimming regularly over the lunch hour; but I don't see much improvement in the ones who aren't doing a regular workout and are just punching out laps.
Good luck!
I recommend Mo Chambers workouts on this site. Easy to understand, and pretty simple to adjust the yardage/intervals to match your abilities and maximum workout times. I find I progress a whole lot faster with structured workouts versus unstructured. I'd like to swim with the local team, but the 6 am workouts don't fit with my kids' current penchant for getting up several times a night, so I swim by myself at lunch.
When I started back in the pool, I began by searching for a workout that I thought sounded easy or fun and swimming as much of it as I could at the time; now 5 months later I just print Mo's workout for the day and swim it whether it sounds fun or easy or otherwise.
I haven't competed since high school (I'm 44), but I'm starting to feel the urge. I won't worry too much about "training" for specific events; I plan to just make sure I can actually complete and/or swim legally whatever I choose to enter and worry about dropping times later.
I see a quite a few of the same folks swimming regularly over the lunch hour; but I don't see much improvement in the ones who aren't doing a regular workout and are just punching out laps.
Good luck!
