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.
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.
