My heart to swim competitively burned out when I was seventeen - though I swam another year (my senior year in high school). Then 33 years later I got back in the pool, and like many others, discovered that I had a renewed passion to compete. That seems in some ways strange to me, so I've been thinking about why I compete. I've reached the conclusion that I really wasn't done when I left the pool at eighteen - rather, I just needed a breather. (That was one huge oxygen debt!) I wonder if one day I'll be done competing, or if this passion is a lifelong one, like the passion for fitness and health that my swimming serves regardless of whether or not I compete.
Former Member
Some people can swim for fitness and don't feel the need to compete. My husband is like that - he has a nice stroke and swims 3/4 mile several times a week, but he has no desire to do intervals or (heavens forbid) compete in swimming (he competes at a high level in duplicate bridge). I, however, find that competition is a wonderful motivator to get out there at 6 AM and to put more effort into it. Fitness is very important to me, and I am sure I am more fit because I compete - but that's just me.
competing is about getting recognition for all the effort you put into yourself, letting the world know you tried hard to be what you are.Also, competition is a great encouragement to do better and better, it is a culmination of all your small and big goals set on your performance through all your work-outs.And finally it is being around people like you, people who share that same passion.
Originally posted by swimpastor
My heart to swim competitively burned out when I was seventeen - though I swam another year (my senior year in high school). Then 33 years later I got back in the pool, and like many others, discovered that I had a renewed passion to compete. That seems in some ways strange to me, so I've been thinking about why I compete. I've reached the conclusion that I really wasn't done when I left the pool at eighteen - rather, I just needed a breather. (That was one huge oxygen debt!) I wonder if one day I'll be done competing, or if this passion is a lifelong one, like the passion for fitness and health that my swimming serves regardless of whether or not I compete.
My story is somewhat the same. I quit swimming when I was 16 years old. I swam on a summer team,only two months a year on a club team. My high school had no team, or a pool for that matter. I was very discurraged because i was not getting better. To make a long story short, I had my son at our local college for swimming lessons and saw a coach teaching some kids, around 7-8 years old, how to start. As soon as I saw this, I knew I needed to swim competition again, and a year after I started, I don't regret it one minute.:D
Originally posted by hooked-on-swimming
And finally it is being around people like you, people who share that same passion.
Excellent thought - one that I share wholeheartedly! Most of the ladies my age are into water aerobics, which at my pool resembles a watery gossip session. When I go to a meet I get to be with other women like me - who swim intervals and aren't afraid to get their hair wet. I find that seeing the women in my age group and talking with them is inspiring and a lot of fun too.
I too left swimming after my senior year. I only got back into it because my son(then 9) decided he wanted to swim and when I told the coach I swam b4, he coaxed me into coming to a masters practice. That all started it. I'll be back in swimming 1 year come this Dec and absolutely love it. I love meets and just want to see how close I could come to my best times in high school. I'm a little off but getting closer.....I always have the excuse that I'm 18 years older now so that makes me feel good.
I also quit swimming when I was 18 after my senior year of high school. I wandered through my twenties until a few months ago wondering what was missing. The first practice that I got in the water for in August made me quickly realize that swimming was exactly what was missing. I think I compete for the rush and to have a test of how well my training is going or just to be with a whole bunch of early risers that feel the same as I do!
I will give my thoughts on this subject which are twofold. First I wonder why quite a few quit swimming between 16-19? I think that those who swam for many years only quit because it does not fit into their lifestyles after HS, college, careers, or just trying to find out what they are going to do and swimming is not a career. It is amazing, but not shocking to me, that after we find out what we are going to do, swimming becomes a part of our life again because we enjoyed it so much and it brings great satisfaction to us. I am 29 and have joined many affiliations, free mason, shriner, ordained minister(online), and am a member of Mensa. None of these has brought the joy of swimming!!! I attend two things that make me feel better about life and myself, church and swimming. Life is to short too not be happy and enjoy the things that make us happy.
GOD LOVES THE POOL AND SO DO I!!!!!!!!!!!
SWIM ON!!!!!!!
Originally posted by Swimmerguy
First I wonder why quite a few quit swimming between 16-19?
Maybe because swimming competetively requires so much time...I burnt out as a teen after a few years of two-a-days, thrice weekly dryland training sessions, "optional" (yeah, right!) Sunday practices, three day meets every month, and so forth. The medals and local press accolades were great, but after I quit I found out how easy it was to stay up late at night and sleep through the morning...
But even as a teen, after I quit, I knew something was missing. I gained twenty pounds and despite sleeping in, I wasn't as energetic. So, middle-aged at 16, I discovered my life needed balance. I tried to return to swimming, but after being "a contender" it was impossible to return on at recreation level. Fortunately I found running and biking, which got me back into shape.
And now, as I revisit middle age at 43, masters swimming helps balance me. I set and work towards goals, stay in shape, socialize with positive people, and get away from work and family responsibilities all in one workout. Pretty good value, I'd say!
One reason I compete is it keeps me going. If I don't have a meet to train for down the road I find myself coming up with a lot of excuses and skipping workouts. I'm sure there are people out there who have the willpower to swim consistently without ever competing, but I guess I'm not one of them!
I have always been massively competetive about everything....I have two siblings that are close to my age and so maybe that has something to do with it? I hated to lose when I was just a kid....but now I don't mind losing (even badly) ...I will compete anyway....I recall that while I was in grad school there were many decent chess players in our department (many were foriegn students...so that could explain why) and we had chess tournaments each year for several years before I left....I got my butt kicked SO many times.....but I didn't care b/c I loved competing and eventually I would win or draw on occaission (especially if my opponent had a bad game)....I am that way about a lot of things....Most of it is just competition with myself....to see how far I can improve...Like someone else mentioned in this thread...(I think it was "hooked on swimming"?)....Competition is one of the ways to measure your improvement....to test yourself from time to time.
newmastersswimmer
