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.
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Former Member
Congratulations! You will be fine - if anything, you need to stop the self-doubt because it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you can do it, you can! Believe yourself doing well...imagine yourself doing well...and you will. No one expects you to jump in and be the next Janet Evans right away. If you work hard (which it sounds like you're doing), and you give it your best - you're going to improve, and you're going to do great. Really. Trust me.
As someone who had a painfully hard time fitting in, in college and even sometimes these days - what you THINK people are saying about you or thinking about you doesn't matter. A) They're most likely NOT thinking anything about you, at all - we're all so focused on our own issues; and B) They don't even know you yet, so give them time to form a friendship with you. You seem like a lovely person, and they will realize this as well!
Hang in there, give yourself a break, and act like you have confidence, even when you feel a little scared. Act like a collegiate swimmer, practice like a collegiate swimmer, give it your all like a collegiate swimmer...and you'll BE an excellent collegiate swimmer!
Congratulations! You will be fine - if anything, you need to stop the self-doubt because it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you can do it, you can! Believe yourself doing well...imagine yourself doing well...and you will. No one expects you to jump in and be the next Janet Evans right away. If you work hard (which it sounds like you're doing), and you give it your best - you're going to improve, and you're going to do great. Really. Trust me.
As someone who had a painfully hard time fitting in, in college and even sometimes these days - what you THINK people are saying about you or thinking about you doesn't matter. A) They're most likely NOT thinking anything about you, at all - we're all so focused on our own issues; and B) They don't even know you yet, so give them time to form a friendship with you. You seem like a lovely person, and they will realize this as well!
Hang in there, give yourself a break, and act like you have confidence, even when you feel a little scared. Act like a collegiate swimmer, practice like a collegiate swimmer, give it your all like a collegiate swimmer...and you'll BE an excellent collegiate swimmer!
