I was just curious. I noticed that quite a few posts are from people in the UK, Canada (which is outside the US, technically ;) ), or high school swimmers.
Are people posting here because discussion boards are not available elsewhere? (I haven't looked.) Or is the information quality higher here?
Parents
Former Member
Member (Colorado). Unattached.
re: Good enough? That's what my wife used to say until she accompanied me at a meet and saw people of all shapes and sizes and ages -- even a blind guy -- swimming in events. All swam with gusto and with pride and with support from everyone there.
Look up a meet in your area. Sit in the stands and just watch. After 2 or 3 events and after you've seen a 200-pound 60-year-old lady in a frilly beach suit get out of the pool beaming with pride and a sense of accomplishment after completing a 100-yd backstroke in 4:55 and her friend greets her at the ladder with a towel and a big hug of congratulations, you'll know you can do it too!
Your participation is about you and achieving your personal goals on the road to better fitness. Hiding your success in your own bubble limits your potential. Once you attend a meet and realize what you actually CAN do, you will be motivated to reach further. There are few things as sweet as beating your goals. And with swimming it is easy to measure growth (in time, and in distance, for example.) With so many different events, strokes and distances at meets, there are countless ways to accumulate little successes.
Just my 2 cents.
Member (Colorado). Unattached.
re: Good enough? That's what my wife used to say until she accompanied me at a meet and saw people of all shapes and sizes and ages -- even a blind guy -- swimming in events. All swam with gusto and with pride and with support from everyone there.
Look up a meet in your area. Sit in the stands and just watch. After 2 or 3 events and after you've seen a 200-pound 60-year-old lady in a frilly beach suit get out of the pool beaming with pride and a sense of accomplishment after completing a 100-yd backstroke in 4:55 and her friend greets her at the ladder with a towel and a big hug of congratulations, you'll know you can do it too!
Your participation is about you and achieving your personal goals on the road to better fitness. Hiding your success in your own bubble limits your potential. Once you attend a meet and realize what you actually CAN do, you will be motivated to reach further. There are few things as sweet as beating your goals. And with swimming it is easy to measure growth (in time, and in distance, for example.) With so many different events, strokes and distances at meets, there are countless ways to accumulate little successes.
Just my 2 cents.
