Master's Swimming
For years some of my friend's encouraged me to join a master's swimming team. I always hesitated. Big mistake.
I finally joined Naperville Waves one last Fall and I have to say it has been an amazing experience. Waves is one of the better teams around and working with the coaches (I won't name names for privacy reasons-- but you can see who they are on the website) has helped my swimming and fitness tremendously.
I would encourage anyone who really wants to get better at swimming, whether for competition reasons or just fitness, to go joint a team. I am swimming twice the yardage per week than I did preparing for IM Wisconsin, and every workout is better.
The reason I hesitated at first was that I was concerned that I would be out-classed. Well, I was pretty much right about that! ;-) There are some amazing swimmers on this team-- former college swimmers that pretty much put the best triathletes I know to shame (really-- you should see some of this!). But, where I was wrong was that it didn't matter. There are also plenty of swimmers at all levels getting in the pool, getting fast, and getting fit.
When I first started, the coaches got me to change my stroke immediately..... a combination of bad habits and old techniques (learned from my HS swimming days 20 years ago) were taking a toll. I am completely rebuilding my stroke... working on front quadrant swimming and longer distance per stroke. Faster, more efficient, and more fun. I am also being forced to swim different strokes. I am actually swimming butterfly with reasonable technique! I am *far* from where I need to be but much better than where I was. I have no doubt that I will take serious time off of my last IM swim at IM Arizona come April.
But even if you aren't planning to race, the nice thing about swimming... it is great for fitness and doesn't create the same amount of stress on the body that running and other sports can. You can get a lot more intensity in per week and recover faster.
So, for those of you who have been on the fence or wishing they could get back in the pool.... do your research on the best teams in the area and go join one.
