Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Anybody want to give an old man a progress check?

I'm a guy in my 60s. I used to swim a mile or a mile and a quarter three or four times a week, but that was in a former lifetime when my age started with a 3. After a few years of that, I switched to running and lifting, and then I switched to watching tv for a number of years. Off and on I've run, walked, lifted, done kettlebells.

During the pandemic, I gained about 20 pounds. I started to feel sluggish, had some back pain, drank and felt sorry for myself (I had a very good reason other than the weight gain). Then I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, and once I got vaccinated, I decided to start swimming again.

I've been at it for about five weeks, three times a week. I'm using a pool that has a 20-yard section for lap swimming.

Can anybody tell me if I'm doing okay for a fat slug in my age group? I seem to remember swimming a mile in about 35 minutes back then. That sure seems like a long way off now.

My time at a normal pace for one 40-yard lap freestyle is maybe :44 or :45; if I go all out and sprint, it's :35 or :36. Each of those is down a couple of seconds from what it was maybe 2 weeks ago.

Here's what I did today, if I remember it correctly. It was 25 laps, 1,000 yards altogether. Took about 33, 34? minutes.

160 free x 1, rested for :30, I think

80 free on 2:00 x 2

40 free, 40 breast on 2:15 x 2

40 free on 1:00 x 4

40 free sprint, 40 free normal on 2:00 x 4

40 free

40 breast

40 free

40 breast

40 free

I'm sure I've left out some brief periods of gasping by the wall. Those last five, I didn't pay attention to time; I just rested a few until my heart rate slowed. My heart rate through most of the workout was up to 120, down to 108, and repeat.

So how'm I doing? Should I just keep going, a little bit farther or harder each time? Any advice? Thanks in advance.

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