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.
It is absolutely true. On time I was sitting with some older swimmers at a social, and they started complaining about the things they 'used to' be able to do in the pool. It was more than I was doing, and I realized I was still 10 years away from the years they were looking back on. It is significant when we realize what a lifetime sport swimming can be.
I originally chose to try swimming because I knew it could be a lifelong sport. Other contenders were recreational boxing and cycling. I love swimming so much now, I look back and wonder how I could have considered anything else. I am so thankful for the privilege to swim, and I hope I can keep it in my life forever.
It is absolutely true. On time I was sitting with some older swimmers at a social, and they started complaining about the things they 'used to' be able to do in the pool. It was more than I was doing, and I realized I was still 10 years away from the years they were looking back on. It is significant when we realize what a lifetime sport swimming can be.
I originally chose to try swimming because I knew it could be a lifelong sport. Other contenders were recreational boxing and cycling. I love swimming so much now, I look back and wonder how I could have considered anything else. I am so thankful for the privilege to swim, and I hope I can keep it in my life forever.
