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 about not responding sooner, as I was on vacation for a couple weeks. I appreciate all the different perspectives. Matt S, your post was especially insightful.
Cinc and USMSarah, I can tell we are in similar places. I think for most women (Dara Torres aside), if you peaked in your teens, it is pretty much a given that as a Masters swimmer, your times will be no where close to the teens. It's hard because the masters times in the 30's are still very competitive ... so I am holding out w/ my 200 FLY and maybe 400 IM until my 40's to compete.
One thing no one mentioned is the way in which some strokes/turns etc have gotten faster since most of us swam as age-group swimmers...e.g.,
- WAVE breastroke (my worst stroke as an age-grouper and the one thing I might be able to do more respectablly now)
- Backstroke flip turn
Anyway, thanks for all the input.
Sorry about not responding sooner, as I was on vacation for a couple weeks. I appreciate all the different perspectives. Matt S, your post was especially insightful.
Cinc and USMSarah, I can tell we are in similar places. I think for most women (Dara Torres aside), if you peaked in your teens, it is pretty much a given that as a Masters swimmer, your times will be no where close to the teens. It's hard because the masters times in the 30's are still very competitive ... so I am holding out w/ my 200 FLY and maybe 400 IM until my 40's to compete.
One thing no one mentioned is the way in which some strokes/turns etc have gotten faster since most of us swam as age-group swimmers...e.g.,
- WAVE breastroke (my worst stroke as an age-grouper and the one thing I might be able to do more respectablly now)
- Backstroke flip turn
Anyway, thanks for all the input.
