So confused.. swimming, or cross country?? they are the same season.....?

Question

I've been a serious runner for 3 and a half years now. My best 5k is 21:59 and my best mile is 6:04, but this year (freshman in hs) it was 6:30... I honestly don't think I have the natural ability to go much farther in running. Injuries showed up in both x country and track this year. The older girls in x coutnry also pretty much shunned me for trying too hard and making them look bad at practice... it wasn't a very good aura to train in if that makes sense.

I have always wanted to try swimming competitively but it is the same season as x coutnry at our hs. I just started club swimming and my coach told me if i trained hard at it all summer I could have a chance at varsity. I know most swimmers have been swimming since they were young, but do you think I would have a chance to be great if i have the heart and the work ethic to train? We're doing a 400 time trial every week to track our improvement and I got a 6:13 for my first one, but the coach said i wasnt pulling any water

Answer 1

Maybe you should try summer swimming before the fall seasons' start. If you like swimming in the summer more than you like track than you should probally try swimming year round.

Also I have a junior on my swimteam who does swimming and track. He just switches off his sport every month. Or something like that. That wouldn't be that bad because swimming and cross country are pretty much the same training.

Answer 2

Swimming is definitely an awesome sport to try! On my team, all the girls have become great friends and we always have fun. It's definitely a similar sport to running, since you have to push yourself and it can be very difficult, but it is rewarding in the end. I would say that you should go with your gut on this one, and if you choose swimming and hate it, you can always go back to cross country next year.

Answer 3

No, it is not too late to have a successful swimming career, BUT....

"Heart" and "work ethic" are fantastic attributes that will take you far in swimming. However, you need an attention to detail and "feel for the water" in order to be successful. When the coach has you do drills, you need to really listen to what he says. Drills shouldn't be "hard." Do them right and they will make swimming easier -- not harder.

Ask your coach show you how the fastest person on your team swims. Walk along the side of the pool and have him point out what the person does right. Ask him to use as descriptive language as possible. It might take a few different ways (visual, aural, experiential) for you to understand what he means. You might also try going to

http://goswim.tv/

and watch film clips of great swimmers swimming and various drills.



Good luck!

Answer 4

swimming is all year round they have all year round for very competitive swimmers and summer swim team for not very competitive swimmers summer swim team is easer you don't do dry land and you don't have to know all for strokes.

Answer 5

it shouldnt be

swimming is a spring sport

water polo for guys is the only aquatics sport that should be in the summer

maybe you just saw them training..?

ok its a 50 meter pool..you in good shape..just keep training..

try paddles and pull buoys

if its 25 meters, you have a long way to go..

and its unlikely u can make it into varsity

so jsut stick with track and xc

Answer 6

Yes you can. I started Swimming 2 years ago for my high school. I never swam competitively a day in my life before softmore year, then i trained everyday. I was terrible my first year, but then got better so on and so forth. It takes A LOT of work. By a lot i mean a lot. You will need to be at the pool at least 4 times a week. I go 5 days a week. If you dont swim for a week your endurance goes down also. Its a very very hard sport to keep up with. But You can do it. I am going into senior year after summer, and i already am getting college letters for swimming. So try your best!!

MY EVERYDAY SWIM WORKOUT:

Warm-up 200x2 warmup. One type of stroke per 200. Each 200 under 3:30.00

Pre-Set 200x3 . One 200 IM.

Main Set 200x4. Individual Medley Order -- Butterfly, Back, Breaststroke, and Free.. This should be at a normal pace -- not too fast. 1:30.00-2:00.00 between each 200.

Main Set 100x4 sprints. 1st 100 -- choice. 2nd 100 -- Breaststroke. 3rd 100 -- choice. 4th 100 -- breaststroke. 30-40 seconds between each 100. At the end, 1:00.00 to 1:10.00.

100x2. First fly, then back. Easy pace.

100x2. First kick fly, then breaststroke for the 2nd 100. 50 seconds per 100. At the end, 1:00.00.

Pull Set 50x3. Pull fly, then back, and then free. 20 seconds rest in between each 50. At the end, 30 seconds.

50x4. IM order.

Warm-Down 200 warmdown, your choice.

*For you though, work your way up to this. In high school swimming, you will not have to swim over 500 meters constantly. But do a few 100, 200 meters nice and easy, dont push it and sprint. Sprinting makes you faster, but you slow down easily if you dont keep up with sprinting. Take it nice and easy and go for long strokes and long distance. That will keep your swimming in better shape.