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.
Hmlee, just so you don't get too discourage, two and a half years ago my entire left leg was numb, and I was losing my ability to kick. Through chiropractic treatments, PT and doing the PT exercises, and making sure I stretch and do core work, I now have no numbness, no tingling going down the leg, and only occasional back pain.
One thing you really, really need to watch for. How you are sitting when in class, driving and working on a computer. Make sure you are not sitting on one leg, forcing one hip out, slumping when driving, forcing the nerve to be impinged more, if you have a lumbard support use it. And when working at the computer, do a posture and leg check ever so often making sure you are not constantly leaning to the right.,
You may be doing all the right things for practice and when you exercise, but if you don't clean up these areas in everyday life it will take longer to heal.
It was a long gradual process for me, I swam(not as much as you, but I am old enough to be your mother :) ), but you will get over it. It WILL come back if you don't continue the stretching and exercises forever. This is now part of your life.
Hmlee, just so you don't get too discourage, two and a half years ago my entire left leg was numb, and I was losing my ability to kick. Through chiropractic treatments, PT and doing the PT exercises, and making sure I stretch and do core work, I now have no numbness, no tingling going down the leg, and only occasional back pain.
One thing you really, really need to watch for. How you are sitting when in class, driving and working on a computer. Make sure you are not sitting on one leg, forcing one hip out, slumping when driving, forcing the nerve to be impinged more, if you have a lumbard support use it. And when working at the computer, do a posture and leg check ever so often making sure you are not constantly leaning to the right.,
You may be doing all the right things for practice and when you exercise, but if you don't clean up these areas in everyday life it will take longer to heal.
It was a long gradual process for me, I swam(not as much as you, but I am old enough to be your mother :) ), but you will get over it. It WILL come back if you don't continue the stretching and exercises forever. This is now part of your life.
