Hi everyone. I'm a slow fitness swimmer who hasn't competed since I was 14, but I'd like to start participating just because it looks fun. I understand that anyone *can* swim up to 3 events at Nationals, but do non-qualifiers take advantage of that? What proportion of heats 'd like to go, but don't want to slow everyone else down.
To WIN is not the norm!!! To be in the water is what most of us are in this sport for. OK- doing well makes you feel better,but in the end we are just happier when we work out in the pool. QUOTE]
Honestly, this is one of the things that I always loved about swimming. Even in High School, when someone was feeling down because they didn't win, or came in last, my first question was always, "But how was your time?" Often the answer was that it was a best time, or close to it. What more can you ask for? You just swam faster than you ever have before! "Doing well" is relative to the individual, and in swimming, you get to experience the "team" atmosphere, while still achieving personal goals.
USMS Nationals enforce this ideal by allowing EVERYONE to be able to participate in some capacity. Everybody has the opportunity to get out of housework because the are "on taper" :D and everyone gets to experience the electricity of a large scale meet. It's really quite cool.
Watching the really fast swimmers race is cool....but my favorites are the people that have a story. The ones competing for the first time ever, those overcoming some major hurdle, and my biggest inspiration...the elderly that are still at it!! I aspire to still be swimming into my 90's, God willing I live that long. :angel:
To WIN is not the norm!!! To be in the water is what most of us are in this sport for. OK- doing well makes you feel better,but in the end we are just happier when we work out in the pool. QUOTE]
Honestly, this is one of the things that I always loved about swimming. Even in High School, when someone was feeling down because they didn't win, or came in last, my first question was always, "But how was your time?" Often the answer was that it was a best time, or close to it. What more can you ask for? You just swam faster than you ever have before! "Doing well" is relative to the individual, and in swimming, you get to experience the "team" atmosphere, while still achieving personal goals.
USMS Nationals enforce this ideal by allowing EVERYONE to be able to participate in some capacity. Everybody has the opportunity to get out of housework because the are "on taper" :D and everyone gets to experience the electricity of a large scale meet. It's really quite cool.
Watching the really fast swimmers race is cool....but my favorites are the people that have a story. The ones competing for the first time ever, those overcoming some major hurdle, and my biggest inspiration...the elderly that are still at it!! I aspire to still be swimming into my 90's, God willing I live that long. :angel:
