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
Former Member
OP, I am (sort of) in a similar situation in this moment in my life as well. I grew up in the water and that's practically all I knew from age 8-19. I regrettably quit swimming after my sophmore year in college after feeling burnt out, struggling with injuries, and stuck at a plateau for two seasons(feels like forever and can be very discouraging). Things went downhill from there; my diet went to crap like taco bell and ramen, I never got enough sleep, too often going out chasing girls, parties, and booze. All the while working 40+hrs a week at min. wage job and "attempting" to continue my degree. I wasn't taking care of myself so everything felt overwhelming and almost depressing. Frankly I was miserable. This went on for over 5 years.
This July, as Ande put it, "at my breaking point". I wanted a change. Hell I needed a change. This August I started to take care of myself more. Throughout a few weeks I started cleaning up my diet and sleep habits. I started to cut things out of my life, slowly.
One of the first things I did was cut the party/alcohol out totally, got 7 hours of sleep a night, and one at a time gave up things like soda pop, canned soups, less sodium, super spicy foods(one of my weaknesses, I hope I don't ruin my stomach/GI tract), and things like that. Since then I have felt quite a bit better, but not great.
Three weeks ago I found a great coach who had a good masters program in my area. I have been swimming for the first time in almost 6 years. I've been doing 3-5 mornings a week ~1.5hr. workout. I just did my 11th practice in 6 years this morning, very low intensity and yardage and it hurts so much. Even after 3 weeks I feel like I haven't swam in 25 years haha. At first I was quite frustrated(still am at times) with how much slower, out of shape, especially how hard it is (and still is!!) just to keep correct technique at a warm-up cruise pace! But my coach has been stressing patience and consistency, like being very patient with your swim progress, DO NOT continue to compare yourself to your former younger swimmer self. This has been great advice to me personally and I always try to keep it in mind. I plan to still stay easy and steady with my training, slowly working up yardage, intensity, and dry land training (which I havnt even started yet). And I'm not even sure how long its going to take! Months? years?(hope not :( ).
Original poster swoo47: I kinda have the same question. Am I crazy to think that I could return to my former competition speed? I used to swim middle-long distance. I'd like to focus on 200fr, bk, fly, 400/500 free, and 400IM....my old specialties, the events I had lots of fun racing in. In my (maybe slacker) opinion these are doozies of events to train and return to?? :confused: I am now 25 yrs old.
What do the wise minds at masters swim forum think?
by the way sorry swoo47 I wasn't trying to jack your thread, it was just so relevant to me I had to post
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
Welcome!
It sucks getting dumped, you'll get through it.
You'll find the one you're meant to be with and the ones along the way
They're just part of your story, transitions can be devastating and difficult
No you're not Crazy
You're sane.
You want a better life.
It is totally possible, you're young
Turn your life around
Swim for you. To feel better. To look better. To swim faster
It's not too late, it's never to late
Begin start dare
Take your first steps, take your first strokes
You went 21.6 as a sophomore
You've got talent
Do something with it
Stop smoking stop drinking stop drugging
Stop spending time with those who do
Start dreaming start doing start believing
Start spending time with dreamers doers and believers
Hit the pool hit the weight room hit the books
Be patient kind and forgiving
We all make mistakes
Become the best you you can be
Sometimes we need to hit bottom before we can bounce
you can you will you must
Welcome to usms.org/forums
Go for it, good luck
Ande
