Masters Swim demystification

From my experience, the amount of time spent by the coach on you individually is dependent upon the particular program and how crowded it is - some coaches are more active than others.

If you are new to a program, it is reasonable to ask the coach to look at your stroke and to let you know the things that you ought to work on + associated drills. 

Masters Swim is not a private lesson.  Expect the coach to give you pointes individual to your stroke (e.g. "Brian, try rolling your hips first and then your shoulders will follow." and even switch up/tweak the routine a little for you to work on while there ... but do not expect a full analysis of your stroke.

That is best done in a private lesson and/or swim clinic.

I watch that all the time.  My plan is to give everyone a 30-60s head start.  No sense in fighting it out. 

Hey Steven...

Check out this link: http://www.dynamomasters.com/news.php?extend.41

The two lessons I've taken with Lisa Marshall have been at the Abbott's Bridge facility.  After my first lesson, I spoke with the woman who leads the 8:30-10AM class on Mon/Wed/Fri.  She told me about the early AM (5:30 start) class as well and said it's a good group.  During next off-season, I'm seriously considering paying monthly ($70/month) for a month or two and hopping in with the 5:30AM group.  It's fairly close to my office and the time's right.

IMFL training ... Dude, get used to opening your wallet.

As for paying for a Masters Swim program, you can now + work on your form or you can pay later in the form of co-pay's ... what I have learned (the hard way) is that the distances required for the training are enough that your deficiency in form (e.g. pulling too much with my shoulder and not rotating my hips) will manifest in an overuse injury (right deltoid for me).

Plus, Masters is truly the way to get better.  After just three sessions, I can already feel the difference in my stroke + RPE.

The Masters Swim Program at Life Time Fitness is open to both members and non-members alike.  The monthly fee for non-members is $43.  They have early morning and late evening sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

For more info: 

Life Time Fitness Alpharetta, Member Activities (USwim Programs), 770-664-9696 

That is also a pretty good monthly rate ... how's the water there? (Anything like the LA Fitness?)

The water at Life Time is great

I swim with Swim Atlanta Master's program at their Sugarloaf pool. They have practices every week day from 5:45AM to 7:15AM and from 12:00PM to 1:00PM.  Saturdays from 9:00AM to 10:30AM.

What's cool about their program is that they also have "tri-specific" swim practices T, Th, and Fr from 7:15AM to 8:30AM. The coach that runs these practices is very good with form and technique. Check it out for free if the times/locations work for you.

 Don't judge this program based on my swim times, though! 

Did my first masters swim today. 

Everything Brian said is true.  If you are doing tris and do not do masters swim at least once a week, you are not maximizing your training. 

http://www.dynamomasters.com

Swim Dynamo Abbotts Bridge.  About a mile from my house.

8:30 to 10am session.  However, I was informed this morning that once school gets out, the schedule will change.  They will probably do masters classes at AAC or Winword from 7:00 to 8:30am and combine with the earlier group.  The later group is mostly women (and now you know why I picked that one - I DO love the ladies LOL) and the earlier group I heard is mostly men. 

Also, I heard they may not be offering the ad hoc/daily pricing and just going with a monthly rate.  If that's the case, I'm probably out. Otherwise, I'll probably start doing this when I'm in town.  May even get fun killer to a few of them.

Jonathan, the Swim Atlanta pool at John's Creek has daily rates, I think it's $5. I don't know how far that is for you but it's another option anyway. www.swimatlantamasters.com/

I'd love to do master's swim but the closest pool with a master's program is the Swim Atlanta at Sugarloaf. They only offer the monthly rate and with everything else there's no way I could swing it, wish I could though. I feel I have reached a point where I won't get much faster without a coach's help.

They are on the other side of my house - about 3 miles away (Dynamo is about a mile away).  I might check them out next time.  They only offer noon swims but that might work out just the same if I'm working from home (which is the only way I would do a masters class anyway).  They do go 5 days a week which is nice.