I have for you an all too common tale of a (former) swimmer who regrets ever quitting the sport.
I am a college sophomore who has been feeling more unmotivated than I ever have in my entire life. Getting up and going to classes is even becoming a struggle and truth be told, I'm miserable. I swam competitively from age 7 through high school, and without sounding pretentious I a garnered a fair amount of success (frequented the top 10 list in my lsc, etc etc) I was always one of those kids with the insane "sports parents" who made me feel like swimming was my career (ie, i had actually been GROUNDED on multiple occasions for "not swimming my hardest" what?) and once I got into high school I started to hate swimming, and my performance and effort reflected that. By my junior year of high school I was so fed up with swimming I stopped swimming year round and just swam for my high school team, which I certainly don't regret at all. At the end of my sophomore year I cranked out a 21.6 scy 50..my last top effort swim of my career
Even though my parents were insane, I loved my teammates and I loved being in the water. Swimming was the only thing that really let me release my frustrations and helped keep me focused in life. Basically swimming helped me deal with life, something I'm sure most swimmers can relate to.
So back to my current situation: I have had quite a few life changes recently. Girlfriend of 2 years broke up with me, friends have been getting in trouble with law, and I myself had a few run-ins (close calls, really) with the law. I feel like all of these things are telling me to go back to the place that always helped me get through things and keep me out of trouble: the water. So I've decided to get back in the water...starting tomorrow morning. I'm going to be training with a masters team that trains in my college's pool, and I am hoping to eventually walk onto to my school's team next year. After 3 years of smoking and drinking....am I crazy? Is this possible? Will I ever get back to my peak swimming form? I'm really just hoping to hear from anyone who has attempted something like this, or knows someone who has.
Thanks guys
Parents
Former Member
One of my coaches once said that the reason he loved coaching Masters was that everyone in the pool chose to be there for practice. That I think is the key, we all do it because we love to swim, not because our parents are wanting us to, or we'll let the coach down if we quit...... No we actually choose to make time to swim.
I grew up swimming at a small pool with restricted space most of the time. Prime pool time was designated for the fairly large and developed age group program. There were a few :45-1hr lap swim sessions throughout the day,(mostly at odd times) occupied by noodlers, bobbers, and backpaddlers doing 120 second 25yrd laps. Some even "required" their own lane.
There never was a big enough interest to start a masters program, heck, there was hardly enough space or time anyway :(
I have never been around a US masters swimming program before 'til 3 weeks ago, and so far it has been so much fun (despite the unusual level of pain starting back trying to keep up with these old farts almost double my age hauling ass!:bow:
One of my coaches once said that the reason he loved coaching Masters was that everyone in the pool chose to be there for practice. That I think is the key, we all do it because we love to swim, not because our parents are wanting us to, or we'll let the coach down if we quit...... No we actually choose to make time to swim.
I grew up swimming at a small pool with restricted space most of the time. Prime pool time was designated for the fairly large and developed age group program. There were a few :45-1hr lap swim sessions throughout the day,(mostly at odd times) occupied by noodlers, bobbers, and backpaddlers doing 120 second 25yrd laps. Some even "required" their own lane.
There never was a big enough interest to start a masters program, heck, there was hardly enough space or time anyway :(
I have never been around a US masters swimming program before 'til 3 weeks ago, and so far it has been so much fun (despite the unusual level of pain starting back trying to keep up with these old farts almost double my age hauling ass!:bow:
