I posted this message a while ago, but I thought I'd ask again. I'm a University student writing an article on people ages 30-50 that swim on a regular basis. Specifically I'm looking for people that had joint or bone problems from other forms of exercise, ex: running- knee problems, and switched to swimming because of the low stress on your joints. Or if you would like to reply to this and tell me why you love to swim and why it helps you, that would be great too.
Thanks,
Rebekah
Bekah-
There are really many reasons why I love to swim. Let me see if I can articulate a few.
First and foremost, I like the feeling of going through the water. It just plain feels good to swim somewhat effortlessly through water as opposed to, running for example. Running was never a joy for me. It hurt and was most uncomfortable. Sweaty, blisters, achy knees, scrunched toes ugh!!! Swimming was and IS a joy. The rhythm, the feeling of a good arm extension, of breathing essentially beneath the surface of the water, the complexity and simplicity of a well timed and executed flip turn, the feeling of speed when you turn on the "afterburners" in last 50. Just writing about it feels good!!!
I have been working out with the same masters team since 1979, and although many people have come and gone, it is still joyful to swim with, to be pushed by and to push others in the pool. Of course at my age of 53 it is a particular joy to push those twenty somethings or thirty or fourty somethings in the lane next to me.
I have not lost my passion for competition. Masters swimming gives me the oportunity to express that passion in a wonderful way. When I am up on the blocks I am as nervous and as anxious to get going as I was as a 17 year old high schooler. And maybe that too is the draw for me, to be able to do something as a middle aged person that I did as a teenager and college student, and to sometimes do it better. It's not that I wish to re-live those days, I really don't care to. They are good memories but I would rather be this age now than that age again!
I guess what I am saying is that swimming is just plain fun!!!
Glenn Gruber
Bekah-
There are really many reasons why I love to swim. Let me see if I can articulate a few.
First and foremost, I like the feeling of going through the water. It just plain feels good to swim somewhat effortlessly through water as opposed to, running for example. Running was never a joy for me. It hurt and was most uncomfortable. Sweaty, blisters, achy knees, scrunched toes ugh!!! Swimming was and IS a joy. The rhythm, the feeling of a good arm extension, of breathing essentially beneath the surface of the water, the complexity and simplicity of a well timed and executed flip turn, the feeling of speed when you turn on the "afterburners" in last 50. Just writing about it feels good!!!
I have been working out with the same masters team since 1979, and although many people have come and gone, it is still joyful to swim with, to be pushed by and to push others in the pool. Of course at my age of 53 it is a particular joy to push those twenty somethings or thirty or fourty somethings in the lane next to me.
I have not lost my passion for competition. Masters swimming gives me the oportunity to express that passion in a wonderful way. When I am up on the blocks I am as nervous and as anxious to get going as I was as a 17 year old high schooler. And maybe that too is the draw for me, to be able to do something as a middle aged person that I did as a teenager and college student, and to sometimes do it better. It's not that I wish to re-live those days, I really don't care to. They are good memories but I would rather be this age now than that age again!
I guess what I am saying is that swimming is just plain fun!!!
Glenn Gruber
