Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get back into competitive swimming, and I heard about the Southeast Zone Masters Swimming. I figured, why not give it a shot? I used to swim a lot back in the day, but, you know, life happens. So this is me, documenting my journey back into the pool, hopefully successfully.
Getting Started (Again)
First things first, I needed to find a pool. The local YMCA seemed like the obvious choice. I went down there, signed up for a membership, and scoped out the pool situation. It wasn’t too crowded, which was a good start. I’m not about fighting for lane space just yet.
I have to looking at my old gear. Goggles? Check. Swim cap? Check. Swimsuit… uh, check, but maybe a new one is in order. Let’s just say my old one has seen better days. I grabbed a new jammer from online store, nothing fancy, just something that, you know, fits.
The First Few Swims
Oh boy, that first day back in the water was rough. I hopped in, did a little warm-up, and thought, “I’ve got this.” I did NOT have this. I started with a simple freestyle set, nothing crazy, just some 100s. By the third one, I was gasping for air. My form was probably atrocious, and I felt like I was swimming through molasses.
I stuck with it, though. I went three times that first week. Each time was a little better. I focused on just getting the feel of the water back, not speed. I did some kicking drills, some pulling drills, just trying to get my body used to moving in the water again. No structured workouts yet, just getting comfortable.
Finding a Routine
After a couple of weeks of just flailing around, I figured I needed some structure. I started looking up some basic Masters swim workouts online. I found a few that looked doable – mostly focusing on building endurance and technique, not speed. I started showing up to the pool with a plan, instead of just winging it.
- Warm-up: 400 easy swim, 200 pull, 200 kick
- Main Set: A mix of 50s, 100s, and 200s, focusing on different strokes. Nothing too intense.
- Cool-down: 200 easy swim
I started trying to go four times a week. Some days were better than others. Some days I felt great, others I felt like I was drowning. But I kept showing up.
Feeling the Progress (Finally!)
After about a month of this, I started to feel a real difference. I wasn’t dying after every 100. My breathing was getting better. I even felt like I was starting to remember some of my old technique! I started to add some shorter, faster sets into my workouts, just to push myself a little.
I even started chatting with some of the other regulars at the pool. Turns out, there are a few other people who are part of the Southeast Zone Masters Swimming group. They gave me some tips, encouraged me to keep going, and even suggested a few local meets I might want to check out. It was good to know some other swimmers.
What’s Next?
So, that’s where I’m at. I’m still slow, and my technique is still a work in progress. But I’m swimming consistently, I’m feeling stronger, and I’m actually starting to enjoy it again. I’m not ready for a competition just yet, but I’m thinking about it. Maybe in a few months, I’ll actually sign up for one of those Southeast Zone Masters meets. We’ll see. For now, I’m just happy to be back in the water.
