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.
Hey Hilary/Harold!
I'll second the others' advice, and I just want to add one more thing: have fun with it! Sometimes when I'm swimming and feeling bummed b/c my workout times are slower than I want them to be (and believe me, my fastest times are going to be slower than those of a lot of ppl here), I stop using my watch and just decide to experience the water, experience the swim, think about the technique advice my coach gave me, notice things--like the bubbles under the surface, the way the morning sun reflects off the water.... And enjoy the fact that I can do this very cool thing called swimming. Swimming is where I release myself from stress, and if I let the workout get me too stressed, it cuts into my energy. Even if you're trying to make a team, the bottom line is that you LOVE swimming in and of itself. Let yourself be fed by that. Ultimately, that's where it all is. (Often, if I let go of the watch and worrying or thinking I'm not that good, I actually start swimming better!)
Good luck with everything!
Hey Hilary/Harold!
I'll second the others' advice, and I just want to add one more thing: have fun with it! Sometimes when I'm swimming and feeling bummed b/c my workout times are slower than I want them to be (and believe me, my fastest times are going to be slower than those of a lot of ppl here), I stop using my watch and just decide to experience the water, experience the swim, think about the technique advice my coach gave me, notice things--like the bubbles under the surface, the way the morning sun reflects off the water.... And enjoy the fact that I can do this very cool thing called swimming. Swimming is where I release myself from stress, and if I let the workout get me too stressed, it cuts into my energy. Even if you're trying to make a team, the bottom line is that you LOVE swimming in and of itself. Let yourself be fed by that. Ultimately, that's where it all is. (Often, if I let go of the watch and worrying or thinking I'm not that good, I actually start swimming better!)
Good luck with everything!
