Psychology of Masters Swimming - Your Input Please
Former Member
I trained and worked as a sport psychologist before I took up masters swimming (and about the same time stopped private practice due to my boring corporate job), and for the first time really I'm looking to put both together with some articles for the web.
There's no lack of material on swimming performance but there's not much out there, for physical or mental aspects of swimming, that really acknowledges the specific challenges that masters swimmers face.
I'd really like to hear your own views on what you have to manage as a masters swimmer. This doesn't have to relate to racing specifically.
For example, I have to plan around my family, never manage to do as much training as I'd like, so I have to manage my own expectations, yet bring what I have in my locker on race day and make the most of it. I also have my 'former' life as a swimmer and the negative experiences that led to me quitting at 18 that shape my motivations now.
Thanks,
Rob
P.S. I've yet to start my own site, but I do have a swimming psychology page on facebook and I'm on twitter. I'd really appreciate a boost with likes/shares as I build a readership.
Great thread!
I swam one year on my high school team, but mostly my focus was diving. As an adult, masters diving is not something that I run across, well... ever. So I began swimming again after finding masters. I had always done sports my whole life, so after I graduated college, I really missed that social and physical aspect of being on a team and going to practice.
I find that over the years on and off it has taken me awhile to adjust. I have had many a hiatus from exercise but eventually find my way back to the water. At 37 (now 38) I finally gained the self discipline to realize how to exercise regularly and make it a priority in my life. I also now realize how crucial it is to my overall health and well being. When exercising regularly, I find that I handle stress much better, I have more energy (usually) and I feel better about myself.
That being said, trying to increase strength and stamina at this age after so long waffling with exercise, is a challenge. I have a full time job and family at home. We also don't have a team workout that I can attend here in Juneau so I'm on my own for motivation.
I often find myself struggling to keep up with career, home and exercise. I've had moments of my mind wandering during workouts to what's at home in our pantry and freezer, and asking myself if I need to go to the store on the way home in order to cook dinner. LOL..
I am also working harder than I ever had as an adult, because the importance to me is now more than social and physical. It's about making myself push past barriers and improve on my own terms. I finally realize that the only person I'm really racing is myself!
Great thread!
I swam one year on my high school team, but mostly my focus was diving. As an adult, masters diving is not something that I run across, well... ever. So I began swimming again after finding masters. I had always done sports my whole life, so after I graduated college, I really missed that social and physical aspect of being on a team and going to practice.
I find that over the years on and off it has taken me awhile to adjust. I have had many a hiatus from exercise but eventually find my way back to the water. At 37 (now 38) I finally gained the self discipline to realize how to exercise regularly and make it a priority in my life. I also now realize how crucial it is to my overall health and well being. When exercising regularly, I find that I handle stress much better, I have more energy (usually) and I feel better about myself.
That being said, trying to increase strength and stamina at this age after so long waffling with exercise, is a challenge. I have a full time job and family at home. We also don't have a team workout that I can attend here in Juneau so I'm on my own for motivation.
I often find myself struggling to keep up with career, home and exercise. I've had moments of my mind wandering during workouts to what's at home in our pantry and freezer, and asking myself if I need to go to the store on the way home in order to cook dinner. LOL..
I am also working harder than I ever had as an adult, because the importance to me is now more than social and physical. It's about making myself push past barriers and improve on my own terms. I finally realize that the only person I'm really racing is myself!
