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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I recommend going and trying. It’ll give the coach a much better impression of you. In essence you haven’t proven yourself yet all you have done is offer up excuses. They are all true and viable but a coach might not see it that way. I don’t think you will further injure your back. Stretch lots and do what the doctor tells you. Maybe stay away from Fly and *** for now. Explain to the coach what exactly the injury is and that you will work as hard as you can and not miss a practice but that you might have to ease up a bit. She should be understanding of that. Stretch before and after practice, stretch when you have time in between sets. It’ll get easier. In another month or two that practice will seem like cake. Keeping track of intervals can be really hard. The 40s are usually pretty easy ... top, 40, 20, top ... While you are swimming think about when you should be coming in. I keep track of sets and intervals that way ... Okay, I left on the 20 so this is number 3, I’m going to have to leave on the top for the next one. 40s actually for me are one of the easiest intervals to keep track of.
Good luck!
I recommend going and trying. It’ll give the coach a much better impression of you. In essence you haven’t proven yourself yet all you have done is offer up excuses. They are all true and viable but a coach might not see it that way. I don’t think you will further injure your back. Stretch lots and do what the doctor tells you. Maybe stay away from Fly and *** for now. Explain to the coach what exactly the injury is and that you will work as hard as you can and not miss a practice but that you might have to ease up a bit. She should be understanding of that. Stretch before and after practice, stretch when you have time in between sets. It’ll get easier. In another month or two that practice will seem like cake. Keeping track of intervals can be really hard. The 40s are usually pretty easy ... top, 40, 20, top ... While you are swimming think about when you should be coming in. I keep track of sets and intervals that way ... Okay, I left on the 20 so this is number 3, I’m going to have to leave on the top for the next one. 40s actually for me are one of the easiest intervals to keep track of.
Good luck!
