Masters Swimming - why did I wait so long?

"Masters swimming slowed me down, worst decision i've made"

Sincerely,

- No one ever

I'm looking for the jealous button.  I don't have access to a masters program.  Closest group is more than an hour away.

jami 

So true!! I hate hate hate swimming solo...and the funny thing is I really like swimming!  Why? b/c I love my groups.  And I have 3 different ones I swim with depending on the season, but I just love the groups.  It is well worth having the group to motivate you, and if you have a good program, you can find a place to fit in. My place is leading one of the slowish lanes.

As corny as this is, the people are often the best part.  

I've made some good friends, riding buddies, training partners and resource connections all through masters swimming.

THANK YOU for posting!  I thought I was the only one.  Closest Masters to me is 85km away.  I have considered, however, maybe doing it once a month or something.

I was wiped out yesterday from the workout and heading back tomorrow morning!

Keep it up folks!

twomarks

I agree that Master's swimming can be a great way to improve swimming - I was on a Master's team for my first triathlon season. I actually joined it before I decided to do triathlon. My program was great (Cambridge Masters - swims at Harvard!), but I eventually stopped going. Why?

Too expensive, really.  $700 a year is the price of a gym membership, and I'd be paying for high level 90 minute workouts which I couldn't do anyway.  I'm sure the former Division 1 collegiate swimmers who swim 5000 yds/day get a great value out of it, but it wasn't a great fit for me.  No other Master's programs in the area work for me, though I'm open to suggestions.

Maybe I'll come back there some day, but for now I have to focus on my run and bike.

It has been two weeks since my last masters class since my pool has been closed for cleaning and maintenance.  I didn't think I was going to be able to make class today because of other commitments, but things change and I am glad I keep my swimming stuff in the car.  I'm really looking forward to swimming today!

With two or three days a week (less than I devote to running or biking) I have made considerable improvement in speed.  Even though I haven't done any OWS practices or any long distance swim practices, I have PRed recent 750m and 1500m tri swims.

If masters classes are available in your area, they are definitely worth looking into.

Hmmmm....

Well, she didn't tell me to do drills on my own, but I assumed that I could.  I guess I'll ask in the morning.  Specifically, so far I have been doing the fingertip drag and the six kick switch.

EDIT: Oops.... I meant to quote Mike D.

Wow, I'd love to see a free masters team included at our gym. I belong to the Y which has a good pool, and monthly membership fees are reduced according to income. 

But not the swim team... that's $250/year, plus mandatory US swimming membership, plus plus etc etc , so well over $300... pretty close to what I pay for the gym membership (of which I only use the pool in the first place).

Maybe that would be tolerable if their schedule would accommodate people who work for a living, but practices that go until 930. I guess they're shooting for the retired crowd.