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.
Haven't been on here in a while, but, swimming used to be my escape from everything else. It was my sanity. Got to the point where I was doing between 7-10k a day. Then a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome. This put a quick end to anything more than a couple thousand yards a day. After SCY Nats in Atlanta, I haven't done much swimming at all. Started playing and competing in Racquetball again, but that's not going real well either. It's about time to make an appointment with a Rheumatologist to see what options are available.
One thing can be said for this...it has slowed me down to enjoy things in life again...:2cents:
But in Tracy's case, I will get him back in the water for my December trip there! Right, Tracy?
As for me, I started swimming at age 4, competing at 5, following in my sister's footsteps. I swam year round until 14 when we moved and the schedule was just too much. I continued HS and swimmer league until college where I stopped completely.
I got back in to it when my sister went to Nationals in 2000. I thought "if she can do that, I can too". So my main motivation was my sister yet again. At the time I started back my thyroid was bad and I was gaining weight. No matter what I tried, I couldn't stop gaining. I got back in the water and felt at home. Within 8 months I had lost the 30 lbs I had gained and felt wonderful. Now my motivation is keeping that weight off. My sister no longer competes in swimming (she does Ironman instead which I will NOT follow her footsteps!) but she still practices with a team so we still have that connection.
I swim with age groupers who are fast! I'm almost always the slowest one in practice. It's an ego-killer every day but when they give me kudos, it boosts me back up.
As for what can kill my motivation, going to bed at 8pm. When I swim, I get up at 4am which means a very early night the night before. There are times when I want to stay up and relax, spend time with my husband, watch something on tv but then I think about the feeling I'll have the next day and I go to bed.
I do find a balance of mommy guilt/ time is hard. The morning practices are easy to get to since my son isn't awake and I get home in time for my husband to go to work. But the weekend meets can easily have mommy guilt. My husband is a great supporter of me but guilt can still seep in. At some point my husband will change jobs and have to leave a lot earlier for work which means no more team swimming for me. When that day comes, it will be very difficult for me.
Haven't been on here in a while, but, swimming used to be my escape from everything else. It was my sanity. Got to the point where I was doing between 7-10k a day. Then a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome. This put a quick end to anything more than a couple thousand yards a day. After SCY Nats in Atlanta, I haven't done much swimming at all. Started playing and competing in Racquetball again, but that's not going real well either. It's about time to make an appointment with a Rheumatologist to see what options are available.
One thing can be said for this...it has slowed me down to enjoy things in life again...:2cents:
But in Tracy's case, I will get him back in the water for my December trip there! Right, Tracy?
As for me, I started swimming at age 4, competing at 5, following in my sister's footsteps. I swam year round until 14 when we moved and the schedule was just too much. I continued HS and swimmer league until college where I stopped completely.
I got back in to it when my sister went to Nationals in 2000. I thought "if she can do that, I can too". So my main motivation was my sister yet again. At the time I started back my thyroid was bad and I was gaining weight. No matter what I tried, I couldn't stop gaining. I got back in the water and felt at home. Within 8 months I had lost the 30 lbs I had gained and felt wonderful. Now my motivation is keeping that weight off. My sister no longer competes in swimming (she does Ironman instead which I will NOT follow her footsteps!) but she still practices with a team so we still have that connection.
I swim with age groupers who are fast! I'm almost always the slowest one in practice. It's an ego-killer every day but when they give me kudos, it boosts me back up.
As for what can kill my motivation, going to bed at 8pm. When I swim, I get up at 4am which means a very early night the night before. There are times when I want to stay up and relax, spend time with my husband, watch something on tv but then I think about the feeling I'll have the next day and I go to bed.
I do find a balance of mommy guilt/ time is hard. The morning practices are easy to get to since my son isn't awake and I get home in time for my husband to go to work. But the weekend meets can easily have mommy guilt. My husband is a great supporter of me but guilt can still seep in. At some point my husband will change jobs and have to leave a lot earlier for work which means no more team swimming for me. When that day comes, it will be very difficult for me.
