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
Sorry,Ion, yes, Jim and Laurie Val are young compared to those in that are 65 and over. I should state that those that swam back in the 1960's and early 1970's were in the pre-goggle era and doing mileage beyond 5,000 yards a day,many teams didn't. There were a few brave people that did yardage beyond 5,000 yards without goggles and had chorine in their eyes. Even I, who started swimming in 1969 at meets in my young career workout in the pre-goggle era, it wasn't fun. And yes Jim is probably only 4 to 5 years older than me.
Sorry,Ion, yes, Jim and Laurie Val are young compared to those in that are 65 and over. I should state that those that swam back in the 1960's and early 1970's were in the pre-goggle era and doing mileage beyond 5,000 yards a day,many teams didn't. There were a few brave people that did yardage beyond 5,000 yards without goggles and had chorine in their eyes. Even I, who started swimming in 1969 at meets in my young career workout in the pre-goggle era, it wasn't fun. And yes Jim is probably only 4 to 5 years older than me.
