A daring comeback

I started competitive swimming for the first time in my life three years ago this upcoming January after six years of growing fatter and fatter, bingeing on candy and other junk food and sitting on my well-cushioned butt. Essentially, I didn't do anything physical on any sort of consistent basis throughout my entire teenage years. I come from a family that places a high priority on sports, all of my cousins and my brothers all played on little-league, middle school, and high school teams, from soccer and baseball to wrestling and football, but notably, nothing aquatic. I wish I had had parents and brothers who wouldn't have been so dismissive when I told them in 8th grade that I wanted to do something in the water as a high school sport. As insane as your parents sound, I think a little bit of my parents' attributes mixed in with a little of your parents' obvious enthusiasm for aquatic sports sounds lovely. That said, I like where I am today. Three years ago in Jan '09, I went a 1:19.92 on my first 100 free scy. Last July, I went 53.13. I'm a late blooming swimmer and I love it. More and more, I've come to appreciate the advantages and special perspectives that come with starting this sport at the age I have. I wouldn't trade it to have started the sport any earlier. In your case, just focus on what you call it in your title- a daring comeback. That's a wonderful starting point, tells a story, gives your reestablished love for swimming an arc to follow, you know? You drank, you smoke, you danced and teetered on the edge... so, psychologically and physiologically, you've probably fallen a far world from where you left swimming at that 21.6 50fr time. Three years ago, there was a big hole in my life and I didn't know what the hell was supposed to fill it. It was like not knowing what I was supposed to be doing. Then I found swimming. Just focus on finding and milking the positives of returning to a sport after a three or so year absence. I look forward to watching your progress as you return to and surpass your high school glory days. It'll happen.

Don't view this as a daring comeback. You're already setting standards too high. Just go out there and have fun with the mindset that anything is possible. I can speak on that last sentence from experience. 100% agree -- swim for yourself and see what happens. Swimming masters can be very liberating in that regard. I look at my meet participation and results as a fun side effect of taking care of myself and exercising in a way that I love. I had been away from swimming for 22 years, and now that I am back, I can't figure out why I let myself stop. You are still young enough to bounce back nicely.

Come back to see if you still like it. I'm sure that fast will return. The team will bring, we hope, give you a better way to spend your time!

I burned out quite nicely in college after swimming three years, it took me til my mid 30's before I found Masters swimming. And I thought I was pretty bonded to my teammates in college, it pales in comparison to the feelings I have for all my masters teammates! So go for it - make your comeback, and do it for yourself and no one else. Depending on your team you may find you want to continue to swim with the masters group as they will be there for you for many more years of your life.

I can definitely relate. I too swam as an age grouper, quit year-round swimming during my sophmore year in high school but continued with high school swimming until I graduated. I wasn't a college swimmer, but I did enroll in PE swimming and swam a bit on my own 1x week (for my sanity), and I kept that up fairly well for the past decade now. I put off joining master's for a long while.....it actually took me 5 years of thinking about it before I finally took the plunge. I worried about lots of stuff during that time....the huge time committment (with a full time job), the 20 minute commute to and from the pool, being out of shape and generally sucking, etc. etc. But, when I finally took the plunge, something just clicked. It all felt normal, like I had somehow done all this before, lol. Its been 4 months now since then and I am loving it. Swimming 3-4 days a week. And the cool thing about Masters is that if you don't like it, you can stop. 7 days a week or 1 day a week....meets or no meets....It will be all about you. You can set your own rules and goals. I haven't raced yet so I can't say if I actually suck or not.....I suspect I won't be nearly as fast as I was 15 years ago, but I'm going to give it a go. I know its possible to get a best time if I decide to put the work in....but that would be A LOT of work which I'm not ready for at this point for sure, lol. It doesn't sound like much time has gone by since you were in your 'prime', so I say that you most definitely could get best times if you make that your goal. So do it dude! Try it out, see how you feel. What have you got to lose? :applaud:

Oh and another thing. Since joining Master's there's one thing I have re-discovered about myself - my confidence. Since I've been swimming again I've re-discovered that I am able to commit to things, set goals, manage my time, live my life how I want to, etc. I used to think that 10 mintues was not enough time to do anything, but now a 10 second rest can feel like soooo much time lol! Basically I've regained my confidence in my ability to keep my *** together. Sounds like you could use a little of that :)

I don't think it has to be detrimental to view this as a daring comeback. Read this by Casey Barrett. Notably, the paragraph in italics. It helps to make something a story. Helps. And besides, doesn't "anything is possible" set the standard just as high as "a daring comeback," if not much higher? Ex-d guy: I am definitely not one of the wise minds of the swim forum (but they're here, I know that, and in fact, I just thrilled myself by disagreeing with one of them), but I certainly think you can get back to your former speed.

I started competitive swimming for the first time in my life three years ago this upcoming January after six years of growing fatter and fatter, bingeing on candy and other junk food and sitting on my well-cushioned butt. Essentially, I didn't do anything physical on any sort of consistent basis throughout my entire teenage years. I come from a family that places a high priority on sports, all of my cousins and my brothers all played on little-league, middle school, and high school teams, from soccer and baseball to wrestling and football, but notably, nothing aquatic. I wish I had had parents and brothers who wouldn't have been so dismissive when I told them in 8th grade that I wanted to do something in the water as a high school sport. As insane as your parents sound, I think a little bit of my parents' attributes mixed in with a little of your parents' obvious enthusiasm for aquatic sports sounds lovely. That said, I like where I am today. Three years ago in Jan '09, I went a 1:19.92 on my first 100 free scy. Last July, I went 53.13. I'm a late blooming swimmer and I love it. More and more, I've come to appreciate the advantages and special perspectives that come with starting this sport at the age I have. I wouldn't trade it to have started the sport any earlier. In your case, just focus on what you call it in your title- a daring comeback. That's a wonderful starting point, tells a story, gives your reestablished love for swimming an arc to follow, you know? You drank, you smoke, you danced and teetered on the edge... so, psychologically and physiologically, you've probably fallen a far world from where you left swimming at that 21.6 50fr time. Three years ago, there was a big hole in my life and I didn't know what the hell was supposed to fill it. It was like not knowing what I was supposed to be doing. Then I found swimming. Just focus on finding and milking the positives of returning to a sport after a three or so year absence. I look forward to watching your progress as you return to and surpass your high school glory days. It'll happen. Geesh 53.3 three years after starting from scratch? Good for you! I'm on 2 years of teaching myself and almost a year with a masters team and haven't sniffed 1:00 yet. I'm a good athlete, in good shape, 44. Do you have a good coach? As for swoo47, good for you recognizing that things need to change. Everybody needs that thing in life to hold onto, that thing that gives you pleasure and comfort, that gives you somehing to look forward to. For some it is religion, for others family, for others sports, and unfortunately for some drugs, alcohol, etc. You are essentially transplanting that innate need into swimming. Getting better and setting goals helps give meaning to your life. I will tell you something funny. Since I started swimming seriously I find myself to be a much better person. My naughty thoughts, if you know what I mean, have become far and few between, lol.

I can definitely relate. I too swam as an age grouper, quit year-round swimming during my sophmore year in high school but continued with high school swimming until I graduated. I wasn't a college swimmer, but I did enroll in PE swimming and swam a bit on my own 1x week (for my sanity), and I kept that up fairly well for the past decade now. I put off joining master's for a long while.....it actually took me 5 years of thinking about it before I finally took the plunge. I worried about lots of stuff during that time....the huge time committment (with a full time job), the 20 minute commute to and from the pool, being out of shape and generally sucking, etc. etc. But, when I finally took the plunge, something just clicked. It all felt normal, like I had somehow done all this before, lol. Its been 4 months now since then and I am loving it. Swimming 3-4 days a week. And the cool thing about Masters is that if you don't like it, you can stop. 7 days a week or 1 day a week....meets or no meets....It will be all about you. You can set your own rules and goals. I haven't raced yet so I can't say if I actually suck or not.....I suspect I won't be nearly as fast as I was 15 years ago, but I'm going to give it a go. I know its possible to get a best time if I decide to put the work in....but that would be A LOT of work which I'm not ready for at this point for sure, lol. It doesn't sound like much time has gone by since you were in your 'prime', so I say that you most definitely could get best times if you make that your goal. So do it dude! Try it out, see how you feel. What have you got to lose? :applaud: Great job getting back into consistent routine of practice! That is my main goal right now. I want to get my biological 'clock' back in tune with doing practices several times a week; currently i'm working towards 6 practices a week. Funny thing is...I haven't really enjoyed swimming this much in....gosh since I was a pre-teen age grouper. Masters swimming is starting to seem so much cooler than I used to think. (sorry, had to say it, flame away :whiteflag:

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys, I went to my first practice this morning and it was hell to say the least haha. Swam for about an hour just sort of coasting...trying to reconstruct my stroke technique really. It feels great being back in the water though and I'm going to keep at it. Again, thanks for the encouraging words and I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on my progress