I'm more curious than anything, but:
Is there anyone out there whose ONLY swim meet experience is as a Master's swimmer? Judging from my casual readings of the posts here, it seems most people who compete now (or are about to return) are former age-group swimmers.
Here are two conversation starters related to my question:
1) If you returned to competition after a long layoff, why the interruption?
2) If you've never competed before, what made you decide to start?
Adam
My interruption was due to the fact that I spent my childhood swimming aiming to get to National Championships. I put alot of hardwork into swimming and gave up some social activities in high school. When I wasn't able to make the cut and my times didn't move for three seasons(junior and senior year of high school and Freshman year of college), I decided enough was enough and retired. I just wouldn't be happy swimming slower and slower throughout college. I said that I would never swim again. That turned out to be false because I started swimming again in 2002, 5 years after I quit, and then, in 2004, I started doing Masters meets again and enjoyed swimming again. I just think that I needed a good 5 years out of the swimming world. I am really glad that I am doing Masters swimming now. The meets are fun and meet alot of interesting people.
My interruption was due to the fact that I spent my childhood swimming aiming to get to National Championships. I put alot of hardwork into swimming and gave up some social activities in high school. When I wasn't able to make the cut and my times didn't move for three seasons(junior and senior year of high school and Freshman year of college), I decided enough was enough and retired. I just wouldn't be happy swimming slower and slower throughout college. I said that I would never swim again. That turned out to be false because I started swimming again in 2002, 5 years after I quit, and then, in 2004, I started doing Masters meets again and enjoyed swimming again. I just think that I needed a good 5 years out of the swimming world. I am really glad that I am doing Masters swimming now. The meets are fun and meet alot of interesting people.
