I just got back from the SPMS meet and I am in a funk. I have talked to several of my contemporaries who share my dysphoria at getting slower. From age 50-62 I slowed down very little. Ages 63 and 64 were one injury or illness after another, but at least there was a cause and I felt I would do better. Age 65 I aged up and for most of the year was healthy. That was a great year,but my times were all significantly slower than at 62. Since then it is very unusual to have one swim that is faster than I did the previous year.At 67(almost 68) I am notably slower than at 65. I have seen the graphs of how times slow with age, intellectually, if I am staying at the same rate of decline as my peers I should accept it, but I don't like it. I know most forumites are much younger and what I am saying may seem like something natural that I should just acknowledge and go on, that is what I thought until I was 63. I know that our having age groups every 5 years is a partial solution to the problem, but there is more difference between a 65 year old and a 68 year old than between a 40 year old and a 50 year old, in my experience. How do the other older swimmers out there cope and have a good attitude? The common saying in Masters Swimming is that "you are only competing against yourself",but my slightly younger self is kicking my butt and I am tired of it.
First of all Allen, you are an amazing swimmer and an inspiration to all of us!
With that said I think the important thing is to keep swimming in focus. We all need to look at the rest of our lives and factor in what we've got going on and our goals and commitments to others.
Personally, I'm having a terrible, stressful year. Due to issues associated with a family member I've become legal guardian of a 5 year old, I currently work (teacher at a public school) at least 48 hours away from home, and more when I finally get home. I am 61 years old, exhausted, stressed-out, and currently recovering from pneumonia. With this said I do not expect to have a good year of swimming, but I can't wait to get back in the pool and do whatever I can do.
We are strong and motivated folks, but everyone has a meltdown point, when you hit it it's best to lighten up on yourself, be kind and patient, and hopefully good times lie ahead.
I do expect to drop time if I can ever afford to retire.
First of all Allen, you are an amazing swimmer and an inspiration to all of us!
With that said I think the important thing is to keep swimming in focus. We all need to look at the rest of our lives and factor in what we've got going on and our goals and commitments to others.
Personally, I'm having a terrible, stressful year. Due to issues associated with a family member I've become legal guardian of a 5 year old, I currently work (teacher at a public school) at least 48 hours away from home, and more when I finally get home. I am 61 years old, exhausted, stressed-out, and currently recovering from pneumonia. With this said I do not expect to have a good year of swimming, but I can't wait to get back in the pool and do whatever I can do.
We are strong and motivated folks, but everyone has a meltdown point, when you hit it it's best to lighten up on yourself, be kind and patient, and hopefully good times lie ahead.
I do expect to drop time if I can ever afford to retire.
