So I have decided to join USMS at the ripe age of 35, after spending the past 12 years teaching myself to swim. I've never been able to be a part of an organized USMS team due to work schedule or being in the middle of po-dunk America with no teams nearby.
So with my recent move back from Korea, I now have a good opportunity to train with a team, a real coach, and get good at this.
My first observation is this: I suck. I mean I REALLY suck. Everything I thought I had been doing right for the last decade, the coach quickly pointed out everything I was doing wrong. Which is good of course, because I want to learn and do it right and get better. But this is going to be tough, I can tell.
My question to everyone is this: Am I unique in the age I join and try to be on an organized team? Is it worth my time and effort to do this?
My question to everyone is this: Am I unique in the age I join and try to be on an organized team?
No. Not even a little. Actually, I’d say one of the most common age brackets to join a team. My first most common joining age is near 50, second most common is 35-40, third most common is 24-26, and lastly around 60-65. These are when I see people join after long breaks or years swimming by themselves. They tend to coincide with common periods for life changes that make people try new things or in the case of the 35-40’s, finally just feel settled enough in life to restart things they used to like to do.
Is it worth my time and effort to do this?
If you enjoy swimming and you like the coach and the team, yes.
My question to everyone is this: Am I unique in the age I join and try to be on an organized team?
No. Not even a little. Actually, I’d say one of the most common age brackets to join a team. My first most common joining age is near 50, second most common is 35-40, third most common is 24-26, and lastly around 60-65. These are when I see people join after long breaks or years swimming by themselves. They tend to coincide with common periods for life changes that make people try new things or in the case of the 35-40’s, finally just feel settled enough in life to restart things they used to like to do.
Is it worth my time and effort to do this?
If you enjoy swimming and you like the coach and the team, yes.
