Talk to me about Master's swim

[Brit]

I found a club nearby who swims at the crack of dawn (just like I need them to). I have googled the heck out of them, but I'm terrified to show up.

I am a strong swimmer for someone who has never 'formally' swam. Like I can swim for a long time/distance, I know how to do the strokes in general correctly (I could probably benefit from someone pointing out poor form though). I can't flip turn worth a damn.

If I go, will they laugh me out of the pool? I hate the feeling of being super newb at things. I guess what I mean by that is that I like to at least marginally fit in?

ETA: Oh yeah andplusalso, it sounds a million times more appealing to be swimming in August here than it does to be running. Will they cool the pool? The ocean gets warmer than 90* here in the summer.

ETA2: How much does it normally cost? This is $13/swim. That seems like a lot.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Our masters is super accommodating to newbs. Go! Try to get there about 15 minutes early and introduce yourself to the coach - let him/her know about your goals, etc.

Is the pool outdoors? I don't know that they *can* cool it if it's outdoors. Indoor pools are much easier to regulate.

[Brit]

I think it is outdoors. A lot of hotels here cool their outdoor pools, so maybe???

It is crazy the amount of water cooling that happens here, I pay a monthly water chiller fee to have my tap water brought down to reasonable temperatures.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Feb 25, 2014 13:24:57 GMT -5 Brit said:

I think it is outdoors. A lot of hotels here cool their outdoor pools, so maybe???

It is crazy the amount of water cooling that happens here, I pay a monthly water chiller fee to have my tap water brought down to reasonable temperatures.

Well, if its something hotels do, it'll be likely, then.  I'm guessing if the ocean gets to 90 degrees, a small-in-comparison pool would HAVE to be cooled, especially if it is outdoors.

[mainewifey]

I've looked into masters swimming as well over the past couple of years and I just haven't gotten up the courage to join one yet. Prices seem to vary by location, between $5 and $10 for drop in rates or between $40 and $50 a month. I have a masters club a mile from my house, but its at a University, which scares the crap out of me even more. I'm too chicken to swim with a bunch of fresh out of college swimmer people!

I'll be looking forward to an update if you do end up trying it out!

[Susie]

I wish I could be more helpful, but it totally depends on the masters group. At my pool, it's an informal thing of like 5 of us (max on a given day) at a time, and we just BYO sets and have a reserved lane or two at certain days/times. Other masters groups charge fees, have coaches, etc. (There is one starting up around me, but I don't think I want to commit the $ and time, since swimming is currently secondary to triathlon for me.) It's all over the map in intensity, skill, ability, blah blah.

Try it once. It's the only way to find out for sure! If they laugh at you for any reason, they're insecure petty little jerks who you shouldn't care about anyway.

[Susie]

Feb 25, 2014 13:36:55 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I've looked into masters swimming as well over the past couple of years and I just haven't gotten up the courage to join one yet. Prices seem to vary by location, between $5 and $10 for drop in rates or between $40 and $50 a month. I have a masters club a mile from my house, but its at a University, which scares the crap out of me even more. I'm too chicken to swim with a bunch of fresh out of college swimmer people!

I'll be looking forward to an update if you do end up trying it out!

From having swum in college:  there were almost no fresh out of college swimmers that did the masters team at my school!  (I know because I lifeguarded.)  

Almost all of us had been swimming for 10-15 years straight and wanted a break after we graduated.  It was more faculty/staff at masters than anything.

You should try it!

[mrs.jacinthe]

Hmmm, I don't know what your COL is compared to ours (I'm guessing VHCOL to our HCOL?)

Our masters is $57/month unlimited. In looking at the USMS page for our area, they seem to run between $55-60 per month.

ETA: I just looked at the fees for some clubs in SF.  They range from $10-15 for drop ins, which seems like it would be more in line with your COL, so I am guessing the $13 is reasonable.  Does the club offer a monthly membership beyond the drop-in fees?

[mrs.jacinthe]

Feb 25, 2014 13:36:55 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I've looked into masters swimming as well over the past couple of years and I just haven't gotten up the courage to join one yet. Prices seem to vary by location, between $5 and $10 for drop in rates or between $40 and $50 a month. I have a masters club a mile from my house, but its at a University, which scares the crap out of me even more. I'm too chicken to swim with a bunch of fresh out of college swimmer people!

I'll be looking forward to an update if you do end up trying it out!

My masters club meets at a university.  Last night's workout featured two swimmers who are CURRENT college swimmers, me, an older dude about my speed, and a newb who is literally learning to swim at practices.  There is no judgment unless it is of yourself (I'm pretty hard on myself at practices).

[Brit]

Feb 25, 2014 13:42:20 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Hmmm, I don't know what your COL is compared to ours (I'm guessing VHCOL to our HCOL?)

Our masters is $57/month unlimited. In looking at the USMS page for our area, they seem to run between $55-60 per month.

ETA: I just looked at the fees for some clubs in SF.  They range from $10-15 for drop ins, which seems like it would be more in line with your COL, so I am guessing the $13 is reasonable.  Does the club offer a monthly membership beyond the drop-in fees?

It is pretty HCOL here. Like yoga class is $20 or some ungodly amount per month.

They have monthly membership, but no published rate for that... I need to put on my big girl panties and just try it out. Still. Terrified.

[kams]

Everywhere is different, and I have no idea about cooling a pool, but my group is super diverse in abilities. It is perfectly fine, and I think my coach really likes it that way. Just get there a little early, and be open to the coach's advice, and have fun! $13/session seems like a lot to me, but that's because I got in at the ground floor of my masters group so i still pay the price we started at, $5/session MCOL. I would expect $8/10 per session for most places, or under $100/month.

[emilyj]

Feb 25, 2014 13:36:55 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I've looked into masters swimming as well over the past couple of years and I just haven't gotten up the courage to join one yet. Prices seem to vary by location, between $5 and $10 for drop in rates or between $40 and $50 a month. I have a masters club a mile from my house, but its at a University, which scares the crap out of me even more. I'm too chicken to swim with a bunch of fresh out of college swimmer people!

I'll be looking forward to an update if you do end up trying it out!

I swim masters at a university, and there are maaaaaybe 3 college-aged kids at best.  Of our overall group, I'm actually one of the younger ones at 36.

Brit, definitely just go! No one is going to laugh at you. It took me a year to learn to do a flip turn, and since my goals are tri-based, I don't do a lot of IM stuff.