Just thought I would start a thread which didn't have deep philosophical overtones so that we all can have fun with the new forum software. Based upon personal experience, I will start a list of “You know you are a swimmer when …” with the following:
You know you are a swimmer when you leave work in the rain and you can smell the chlorine coming off of your hair.
Anyone care to add to the list?
FlyQueen- I had a hard time just TYPING 50 x 100 fly! Swimming that amount of fly is not anywhere in my gene pool. In fact I'm pretty sure there's a lifeguard at that gene pool!!! :p
... the first thing(s) you think of packing when preparing to go on a trip are swimsuits and goggles. You might be going on an Antartic National Geographic exploration trip for ten months or just overnight to the Saharan desert where the odds of finding anything to swim in are ZERO.
But you'll take them along just in case.
You know you're a swimmer when; you keep a copy of the pools lap swim schedule in your wallet, glove compartment and on the 'fridge. You keep the pools phone number in both your PDA and on speed dial on your cell. The life guards know your first name and automatically 'put out a lane' for you when you arrive at the pool.
... when you can swim two miles in a workout no problem, but can hardly run half a mile without getting out of breath (Guess what I did when the pool was closed this morning?)
Hiro, Wow, I swear you are my evil twin. Reading your post was like staring into a mirror...:agree: :agree:
You know you are a swimmer when you don't shampoo and comb out your hair after a practice/meet...and even though you soon have this gnarly, green, spikey coiffure...you never give a thought as to just how abnormal you look the rest of the day.:shakeshead:
Mark
...when you get that adrenaline surge mixed with a slight feeling of dread when you smell chlorine. You know the pain is coming... and you love it!
...when you get unreasonably pissed off when someone interrupts one of your sets by swimming through your lane, dropping something in your lane etc. You're like a junky getting a fix, anyone that interferes with that mission is just asking for trouble.
...when your pants are too loose at the waist and your shirts are too tight at the shoulders.
...when you know exactly how many strokes you need to take for SCY, SCM and LCM in all four strokes.
...if you remember when spin turns with one hand on the wall at all times were required for backstroke. Also, when breaststroke was completely different.
...when you can fully appreciate the insane beauty of watching world-class swimmers perform. You're up late at night scouring youtube for clips of old Alex Popov races, Janet Evans, Michael Phelps in Melbourne or Spitz in Munich that have reasonable commentary (usually Australian). The next day, you're charged up to double your yardage.
...when you plan vacations based on which resort has a 25 yard pool.
...when you get that adrenaline surge mixed with a slight feeling of dread when you smell chlorine. You know the pain is coming... and you love it!
...when you get unreasonably pissed off when someone interrupts one of your sets by swimming through your lane, dropping something in your lane etc. You're like a junky getting a fix, anyone that interferes with that mission is just asking for trouble.
...when your pants are too loose at the waist and your shirts are too tight at the shoulders.
...when you know exactly how many strokes you need to take for SCY, SCM and LCM in all four strokes.
...if you remember when spin turns with one hand on the wall at all times were required for backstroke. Also, when breaststroke was completely different.
...when you can fully appreciate the insane beauty of watching world-class swimmers perform. You're up late at night scouring youtube for clips of old Alex Popov races, Janet Evans, Michael Phelps in Melbourne or Spitz in Munich that have reasonable commentary (usually Australian). The next day, you're charged up to double your yardage.
...when you plan vacations based on which resort has a 25 yard pool.
...
...when you plan vacations based on which resort has a 25 yard pool.
..... as a minimum in length and has at least two straight and
parallel sides.
You entertain the thought of painting your nails or getting a mani/pedi but you realize the very next morning it will be stripped away in the pool. You try to think of a time to do it and realize there are never enough days in a row away from the pool to make the polish last.
Eventually you totally give up the idea of looking girly and don't entertain the concept unless it's a mani/pedi without polish...mostly because the massage feels good on your poor extremeties. It's amazing how many muscles are used in your hands during a good swim!
...lunchtime is meant for 1500-2000 yds workouts. Eating is reserved for the 5 minutes in the rest of lunchhour.
....you keep a training suit until it virtually disintegrates in your hands.
....you leave a dinner table full of dirty dishes, a wife and 3 kids so that you can make the practice time.
....you can't take a business trip without planning the week's workouts in strange unknown pools.
...you get in a big fight with your sister because she makes you late for the workout!
