No Need To Slow Down

Slower swimming as you get older?

I recently read an article detailing some reasons why you might swim slower as you age. This was from a youth swimmer going into masters swimming perspective – but I think the points are relevant to most adult swimmers / triathletes and are worth sharing.

The key points were:

1️⃣ Decreased swim volume
As you get older you don’t swim as much as you used to. The swim volume – and all the benefits that go with that – is not there. As with most sports, the more you do of it, the better you become.

2️⃣ Decreased focus on stroke mechanics / technique
Most adult swimmers / triathletes don’t have access to a poolside coach who will give feedback on swim technique – or points to focus on. Without this, bad habits emerge and, unchecked, technique worsens – impacting on efficiency and speed.

3️⃣ Decreased training intensity
A lot of swimming is done outside of the club / squad environment and can consist of mostly steady-paced swimming. Remember, if you want to swim fast, you’ve got to swim fast!

4️⃣ Altered body / reduced range of motion / flexibility
Additional weight affecting body position in the water as well as reduced range of motion and flexibility can impact swim technique.

5️⃣ Increased life stress
As you age, life gets in the way a bit more, responsibilities increase, stress emerges. This life stress impacts sleep, recovery and performance.

You might not be able to do much about #5, but you can certainly start to think about points 1-4 and make some changes if you want to improve your swim.

Coach-led pool sessions, increased swim frequency, interval-based swim sessions coupled with some land-based flexibility / range of motion work will all positively impact your swimming.

Don’t believe me? Give it a try for a few months and see how much you improve!!