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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Well, today was day 1 of our huuge invitational.
Since today is a friday, not that many teams were there. I think we had 5 total.
Let's see if I can remember them all...lol
There was us, 3 swimmers from Illinois Weslyan (the rest of the team arrives tomorrow), College of Dupage, Luther College, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, and the Wash U divers (their swimmers are comming tomorrow I think).
Apparently tomorrow there will be 12 teams. :eek: !!
Our pool is huge, but I can't imagine having that many swimmers there! I mean it was already full today, and now we're talking about adding like 150 more swimmers to the mix? Yiiikes!
I spent part of this meet writing and calculating the diving scores. I guess the girl who normally does it didn't show up, and one of the other team's coaches was being kind of assholish and refusing to write numbers. Whatever.
The teams are lucky they've got an injured swimmer like me around! ;) I'm just so useful!
I guess tomorrow I get to go back to timing at least for the morning prelims. The finals I'm not sure if I'll be timing or writing again. Weeee'll see
I brought a bag of pretzels to feed my teammates. It dissapeared in like 15 minutes. Hahah. We're a hungry bunch!
Being at meets (even if I'm not swimming) totally makes me want to continue swimming. During the week sometimes...I have my anxieties and doubts. A lot of that is due to the pain I end up in when I swim from the injury. I also don't really like getting up in the morning, lol. Oh well.
But there's just something about the meets....kinda makes it worth it! Although, perhaps I can say that now because I'm not feeling the competition anxiety! Eeeeek!
Aaaand now I'm off to chill with some friends....apparently we're trying some sort of drink called "flaming dr. peppers"...should be interesting!
Well, today was day 1 of our huuge invitational.
Since today is a friday, not that many teams were there. I think we had 5 total.
Let's see if I can remember them all...lol
There was us, 3 swimmers from Illinois Weslyan (the rest of the team arrives tomorrow), College of Dupage, Luther College, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, and the Wash U divers (their swimmers are comming tomorrow I think).
Apparently tomorrow there will be 12 teams. :eek: !!
Our pool is huge, but I can't imagine having that many swimmers there! I mean it was already full today, and now we're talking about adding like 150 more swimmers to the mix? Yiiikes!
I spent part of this meet writing and calculating the diving scores. I guess the girl who normally does it didn't show up, and one of the other team's coaches was being kind of assholish and refusing to write numbers. Whatever.
The teams are lucky they've got an injured swimmer like me around! ;) I'm just so useful!
I guess tomorrow I get to go back to timing at least for the morning prelims. The finals I'm not sure if I'll be timing or writing again. Weeee'll see
I brought a bag of pretzels to feed my teammates. It dissapeared in like 15 minutes. Hahah. We're a hungry bunch!
Being at meets (even if I'm not swimming) totally makes me want to continue swimming. During the week sometimes...I have my anxieties and doubts. A lot of that is due to the pain I end up in when I swim from the injury. I also don't really like getting up in the morning, lol. Oh well.
But there's just something about the meets....kinda makes it worth it! Although, perhaps I can say that now because I'm not feeling the competition anxiety! Eeeeek!
Aaaand now I'm off to chill with some friends....apparently we're trying some sort of drink called "flaming dr. peppers"...should be interesting!
