I wondered if any of you can help me with some perspective on this. I was a respectable age-group swimmer (age 8-18 - peaked around 16). Swimming was my life. I went on to do triathlons in college and casual running and swimming after that. Now in my late 30's. Have always swum to keep in shape, but getting slower every year.
How do those of you in the 30's, 40's etc. who had a previous swimming career deal with the disappointment of getting slower, and slower? It is so frustrating. I get particularly frustrated with myself when people in practice who I should be much faster than (ie they didn't swim competitively and have ummmm...less than ideal strokes), are beating me. I still have that competitive mindset.
Since I don't think I would swim respectable 30-something times in a meet (and I have little kids right now that are keeping me pretty busy) I am waiting until 40's to compete. My butterfly is still OK so thinking if I can do a respectable 200 butterfly in my 40's that would be an accomplishment.
Anyway I just wondered how others put this into perspective. Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I understand what you are talking about. For example, I'm way off of my times from the teen years. And with women we loss upper-body strength more than the men do,so as you age and in my case took off like 25 years, it has an effect on your swimming. My breaststoke was probably effective less than the other three strokes. Backstroke, I was even bad as a teenager. In ***, the kick is more important,so I lost less than I did in the other three strokes that depend upon upper-body strength.
I understand what you are talking about. For example, I'm way off of my times from the teen years. And with women we loss upper-body strength more than the men do,so as you age and in my case took off like 25 years, it has an effect on your swimming. My breaststoke was probably effective less than the other three strokes. Backstroke, I was even bad as a teenager. In ***, the kick is more important,so I lost less than I did in the other three strokes that depend upon upper-body strength.
