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.
Former Member
I haven't been in this thread for a while but it's good to see that your back is improving and that you have a good relationship with your coach. Next year will surely be a better swimming year for you.
There is a tiny possibility that I might get to go to the conference meet afterall.
My mom, after hearing about how I wouldn't be able to go, has offered to pay the school for my airfare/lodging/whatever else is necessary.
Unfortunately......they still might not let me go.
My coach said she would have to talk with the assistant athletic director about it, but that it was possible they would say no.
Apparently they'd be concerned about having coaches bring other people and then about kids who wern't allowed to go but couldn't pay and and.......
Ugh.
I say it's all bull**** (excuse my language).
Fact is, I am a part of this team. I stuck it out for the entire season when I could have quit. Not only that, but our team is now small enough that we are well under the maximum amount of people allowed to go to UAAs. I would be the only one staying home.
I said before that I understood why the school couldn't buy me a ticket - I mean that makes sense...
But now I'm offering to pay for it myself (well my mom is) and they still might not let me go?? What the hell is that? Why is it any different than if I bought a ticket on their flight and bought a room in their hotel and just decided to go by myself? I just don't understand....
Thanks :)
Yeah...it certainly wasn't my intention to get injured this season, but I admit it's made for some good postings.
Hopefully Life of a College Swimmer: Season 2 will be even more entertaining....although in a healthy kind of way!
Ooooh......today was owie.
Yesterday I stayed home from morning practice because my back was killing me. This morning, it was a bit better than yesterday, but still hurting.
All the same, I hate skipping more than one day of practice in a row...so I dragged myself in anyway.
It wasn't all that bad...I mean I told my coach I was sore so she had me do easy swimming and drill today - no sprint stuff. Hopefully I'll be back to mostly normal tomorrow and I can continue to work on speedier stuff.
I've been feeling almost...ashamed...lately. I mean I know I didn't cause my injury, and that I can't really control how fast it heals (other than doing the therapy and stuff)..but...lately I've just been..feeling like I should have known better. Or something. Like if I had known how serious this was going to be in the very beginning - I could have done something....maybe...and I would have been able to swim in a meet this season. Ergh....
Today's WO:
Stretching, around 300 various ab thingies
Warmup:
200 swim free
200 free alternate 25 drill/25 swim
200 pull
200 stroke drill
200 swim build by 50s
Main/Cool down
1,000 various swimming/drilling
Total: 2,000 yds
I've enjoyed reading this thread. I am also a college swimmer, but I am on a club team, which is much more relaxed (no coach, swim 2-3 days a week). Even though it wasn't the original intent of the thread, it's great to read about your ups and downs in your recovery from an injury - it's hard to find someone willing to share how hard the recovery process is, every step of the way.
Well.....
Saturday was our last meet of the regular season. (Or at least the last regular one - Conference is in two weeks but I won't be there, so it *is* the last for me)
Last meet for 8 months. Yikes.
Tomorrow is my second to last monday practice. Wow.
I'm really shocked at how fast it's been going by....
I'm kind of happy for it to end - only in the sense that I'll finally be able to sleep again! And the sooner this season ends, the sooner the next one (where I'll hopefully be healthy and good) will begin.
Our meet was at DePauw. It was us, DePauw, and Rose Hulman. I don't know the official results, but if I had to guess I would guess that it was 1. DePauw 2. Us 3. Rose Hulman.
That'd be pretty typical.
I feel rather guilty.
I've missed the last four practices.....
It's not that I really wanted to (okay so that first one was a nice break, but after that...). I actually was sick. Really sick. As in I was curled up on my couch in half-fetal position most of the day. I survived on ginger ale and saltine crackers - anything else would make me throw up (which I did with some frequency anyway).
It's possible I could have gone to practice. But I was worried. Not just that I wouldn't feel good or something. I mean the work I've been doing in practice is rather light, especially because the other girls are tapering and so their practices are short too (around 2600yds - means I do more like 2200 in the same time). It's just......well I wasn't sure if this thing was contagious or not. It behaved a lot like some form of flu/stomach flu, but it could also have just been a digestive weirdness for me.
Still, I didn't want to take the risk. I would have felt horrible if it was contagious and someone picked it from me this week and then was sick during our conference meet. That would be so bad - not only that, but my coach would probably kill me. Or strangle me with a lane line.
I don't know......did I make the right choice here? I feel so strange...like I let people down.
P.S. Stay tuned - this afternoon I'll be posting pics of our team shirt! Woot!
