So since at least two people on this board are interested in my adventures in joining my University's team I thought I'd create a thread (much like ande's swimming blog) to detail all of it. Yeah.
Since the season doesn't actually start regular practice for another week and a half, this is mainly an intro post - and I'll update it with what happens when I go meet the other girls on the team and such! Stay tuned! It'll be better than any general hospital or passions!
Today I actually swam for the first time (since my freshman swim test last year) in the University pool. It was huge. And cold. Over the summer I got used to swimming in health club pools with water hovering around 80-85. Not exactly the most comfortable water at times, but at least nice and warm. The Ratner pool here is...freezing by those standards. I'm guessing the water temp is 75 at the warmest. Gives new meaning to the term "warm up".
I was really nervous when I first got in - the girls and guys returning members were having informal practices and I was sort of afraid they'd notice me. Although, I don't think they did. Or maybe they did and I just didn't hear what they said about me. Haha.
I also swam a 600 for the first time in a long time. I mostly stuck to 400s and below in my summer workouts (yeah, I know, I'm a little bit of a wimp). Unfortunately, that couldn't last. The coach suggested when I met her that I get in the water and swim 6-800 straight every day this week as part of my workout. It kind of hurt. Actually, it was one of the odder experiences of my life. For the first 200 or so my chest was tight from my asthma and I was freaking out about the distance (I was also really cold). Then all of a sudden I started to get really into it and just kept on going. I probably could have done 1000 if I wanted to.
The workout was cut short - only about 2300yds - because I promised my friends I'd come home and cook dinner for them tonight. And that's where I leave it tonight.
Background: For those who didn't see my posts on the board throughout the year, I'm a soph. in college who has been going through the prepartion to join my school's team. I attend the University of Chicago (a div 3 school) and was a competitive swimmer for seven years before high school. Burnout put me out of the water for almost 5 years, however, and I'm only recently getting back into it.
OK - I'll relate my senior year of college experience to help with your jitters and education (granted I had swam the prior 3 years on the team)...
I was feeling kinda burned out with swimming so I didn't show up for the first month of practice. Finally, the coach gave me an ultimatum; show up and swim or your off the team. Well, I showed up and, of course, I was out of shape and couldn't keep up with the rest of the team. Even the freshmen were kicking my tail. Within a few weeks, I was keeping up with them and passing most of them. I remember teammates actually asking who I was. Once I became "involved" (in shape and confident) with the team I fostered the relationships I had and focused on becoming a leader (holding a psche-up dinner prior to the conference meet, etc). By the end of the season, I broke the school record in the 100 free and was voted most valuable swimmer by my teammates.
Former Member
Well today I went down to the pool and met some of the other swimmers. I also watched the freshman take their swim tests - which was fun. One of them ended up freaking out on her last lap and having to get rescued. I felt so bad for her, because she was originally doing so well.
At one point one of the guys who I swear just barely made it through the test (he was doing a 1-armed crawl at one point) got out of the pool and said something to the effect of "Gee, I'm in better shape than I thought I was."
This kind of made me wonder internally. I don't really consider myself to be in that great shape - afterall I'm just getting back into swimming. And yet, I can easily swim 40 or 50x what he swam (the frosh test is a 100yd swim) every day of the week, with a little muscle soreness afterwards and be pretty much fine. So..how do I do that if I'm really not that fit?
Meeting some of the girls was kind of weird. They were nice...but I don't know. I got the feeling that they may have been thinking "You? Swim?". I also recognized one girl from conversations I had had with someone else, and kind of freaked her out by knowing her name. Hopefully she didn't think I was too creepy.
In recent days, my confidence has taken such a hit it's not even funny.
The coach seems happy to see me when I show up, and I think she believes I can do it - or at least I don't think she'd be so easy to let me on the team if she didn't, but I don't know that the other swimmers will feel that way too.
I'm also not sure if I'll be able to get in a swim tonight, because I was really sick this morning. Should I try to tough it out and swim or should I take a break until my stomach feels better?
Former Member
I would say that in general, you should do your best and not worry about what others think. If your best is not good enough for them then that is their misfortune, not yours.
As far as your stomach goes I would encourage you to swim unless you think it might cause you to get sick in the pool.
Former Member
You are over-thinking this by light years. Do this:
1) Go to the pool each day.
2) Train as best you can.
3) Leave the pool, forget about it and do everything else in your life.
In time, it will be clear just where you stand; you can't know that now, so stop worrying about it.
As a friend once said to me: We get through every problem except the last one.
-LBJ
Former Member
Wow. Thanks LBJ and waves.
I think the majority of my nervousness comes from a different prespective on it. It's true that I was a competitive swimmer, but it was for age group club teams and not for a school. I guess I just kind of view it differently...and I'm more nervous about it.
I'm also really hoping to be accepeted by the girls on the team - it will make it so much easier if I have support from them as well as from the other people in my life.
My stomach is still horrible so I've postponed a swim until at least tomorrow.
Former Member
Originally posted by hmlee
I was really nervous when I first got in - the girls and guys returning members were having informal practices and I was sort of afraid they'd notice me. Although, I don't think they did. Or maybe they did and I just didn't hear what they said about me.
Don't confuse your "worth" as a swimmer with your worth as a person. Even if you are the slowest person on the team, there isn't anyone on the team that couldn't use another good friend. Like water, you too will find your level if you give it time.
All your friends here are pulling for you.
-LBJ
P.S. Since you didn't mention it, for anyone interested, the Univ of Chicago web page for women's swimming is:
athletics.uchicago.edu/.../swwomen.htm
I'm kind of curious about one of things you brought up. What the heck is the freshman swim test? Is this something all freshman need to do? If so, it seems like something out of the '50s or something.
The university I attended a while back recently dropped it's swimming requirement for graduation. It was easy for most but for students who are afraid of the water, it could be very intimidating. Fortunately, they had good classes for those that needed water confidence.
