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.
Originally posted by newmastersswimmer
originally posted by Fatboy
Am I the only one surprised you are cheering for a Texas
team?
I'm not sure if your only kidding with me or you're actually serious here? Maybe you haven't read a lot of my prior postings.....but I grew up in Houston as a kid and most of my family still lives there.....so that is why I'm rooting for Houston....and besides, TN and TX have a close historical connection that goes back to Sam Houston, Sam Bowie, and Davey Crockett (and others)....i.e. TN had a lot to do with the Texas Revolution in the early 1800's.
As far as wanting the Stros over the Cards Hmlee.....well all I can say is...Be careful what you wish for!
Newmastersswimmer
I was just kidding with you. Should be a good series.
Yep...dats me! My middle name is muriel.....haha. Although one of my friends once got it wrong and nicknamed me meryllium (she was in chem at the time...)
originally posted by Fatboy
Am I the only one surprised you are cheering for a Texas
team?
I'm not sure if your only kidding with me or you're actually serious here? Maybe you haven't read a lot of my prior postings.....but I grew up in Houston as a kid and most of my family still lives there.....so that is why I'm rooting for Houston....and besides, TN and TX have a close historical connection that goes back to Sam Houston, Sam Bowie, and Davey Crockett (and others)....i.e. TN had a lot to do with the Texas Revolution in the early 1800's.
As far as wanting the Stros over the Cards Hmlee.....well all I can say is...Be careful what you wish for!
Newmastersswimmer
originally posted by Hmlee
Yep...dats me! My middle name is muriel.....haha. Although one of my friends once got it wrong and nicknamed me meryllium (she was in chem at the time...)
Yaeh....Meryllium sounds like some kinda rare metal or somethin?
I like Muriel though....It sounds like an Elven name from The Silmarillion?....I think the mother of Luthien (from the story of Luthien and Beren) was named Muriel??...but I can't swear on it....Luthien's mother was actually a Mia though (not an elf) who married an Elven King (King Thingol)....So Muriel may have been a low level Goddess in that story....Gandalf was also a Mia (as were all the wizards in Middle Earth)....Enough about that though...I would hate to get pegged as some sort of geek or somethin...LOL!!
Newmastersswimmer
Especially in Chicago!
My wife was just commenting yesterday about the line in the Kanye West song "Gold Digger" where he says "she walkin' around lookin' like Michael with ya money" We both assumed he was talking about Michael Jordan, but it would probably make more sense that he's referring to Michael Jackson.
We both just still assume "Michael" is Jordan, not Jackson!
Morning practice todaaay!
Dry land training. Woot. Stretches, plyometrics, abs, reaction training, weight lifting. Then home for a short nap before class.
Fun times.
We got our team sweats in today. They're basically the warmups we wear at meets (that we have to turn in again after every meet...blegh). They're pretty spiffy looking...I wish I could take them home with me!
I'm the randomly assigned number of 23. I know it doesn't mean anything...but it's still kind of cool to have a number!
