Masters swim - or train on my own?

baprince15

I left a great masters program and TI coach in Pittsburgh and I'm struggling to find aprogram that works well for me in the Boston suburbs.

Do most EN members swim with a masters program, or just do the workouts on their own?

cgres123

I think most folks are like you struggling to find the time let alone fall into a master group. The master group I know of is very early in the AM, which doesn't work for me however the pool is open to about 9:30 and I just get there when I can.

Robert Sabo

Two workouts on my own per the EN plan and one with Masters group. The group workout pushes me to a faster pace and holds me accountable to shorter rest intervals during sets and even pacing especially if I'm leading the lane.

GMAN 19030

Posted By David McLaughlin on 24 Mar 2014 11:56 PM


I think most folks are like you struggling to find the time let alone fall into a master group. The master group I know of is very early in the AM, which doesn't work for me however the pool is open to about 9:30 and I just get there when I can.

Same issues here.  The masters swimming groups near me don't exactly have great hours.  I'm not swimming at 5am and I'm not swimming at 8pm.

Derrek Sanks

I went from swimming on my own to swimming with Masters swimming (pre-EN) and really like swimming with other like minded folks plus I take less rest breaks. I'm torn between doing EN workouts on my own or staying with masters. My Masters coach is also a Triathlon coach.

rlh2000

I swam briefly with a Masters group, though it was a low key one with minimal coaching beyond prescribing the workout. I found that it motivated me to actually get to the pool, since that can be a struggle, and found that while at that time I was struggling to stay in the water beyond 30 min or so, with the group motivation I could make it the full 1 - 1.5 hrs. Also pushed me to swim faster. The drawback was that some of the workouts were breast, back, and fly. My fly looks like a beached dolphin having a seizure. Don't think that was any benefit to me triathlon-wise. I guess I could have just altered the workout to do all free, but I felt like that was kinda against the idea of the group.

Robert Sabo

My masters group is geared to open water swimming and therefor has most training for TRIs and the many open water swims we have near me. The head coach designs the workouts so the one lane that does actually compete in masters swim can mix in IM to the workout. The tuesday night 8 PM workout is just too late for me.

Kerrie Freeborn

My local tri club has a masters program, so conveniently tri aimed. Easy way to ensure I'll get in a swim workout and see friends/meet new people. Downsides are one option is hard to get to and the other has too many different speeds of swimmers in the same 50 meter lanes. When the outdoor pool opens for summer, will be swimming early mornings with a swimmer-background masters program. Like swim camp but all summer long. Fastest way to regain my old technique, especially since I find swimming too often with people without good technique causes me to be less effective/careful with mine.

Peter Greagg

I used to train with my tri club pre-EN. Because I suck at swimming I was in the slowest lane and we would only do about 2 and a half kilometres in 90 mins. Too much rest between sets etc for my ROI.
I now exclusively do EN wkos at the pool around lunchtime and, for example, yesterday I did almost 4 km in 105 mins — I am doing the IM beginner plan.

Coach Patrick

Brett, where are you in the burbs of Boston?

MattAaronson

For schedule reasons I swim on my own.

William Jenks

My best swim shape (and the year I qualifies for LV 70.3) was the year I was able to swim masters. That said, it took a noticeable toll on my other training because I was working VERY hard at it. No doubt it was a motivator. Also, I got a good coaching relationship that paid off in the next year (when masters was no longer available...long story).

Regarding distance per time in the pool... The way to maximize distance in the pool per hour is to jump in and swim moderately hard for an hour with no stops. That is NOT how to become a faster swimmer...at least not doing that every day. Not to say you should do nothing but sprints but I try not to obsess over total distance.

climbhard00

Masters, all the way. My local Masters Club has a lot of stud swimmers, therefore it's always pushing and keeping accountable. My swimming has improved a lot since joining as well!

baprince15

@Coach P - I'm in Needham.

the Wellsley group, which has the most convenient practice times, told me they want "serious swimmers"; the Babson group doesn't seem to have good practice times. I'm leaning toward swimming on my own this season. I don't think it optimizes my potential results, but it seems to be the best way to make sure I get the swims in when my schedule allows.