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 don't exactly know much about the situations behind it... just that the men's coach is just...not coming back.
My coach's husband (who was formerly the men's soccer coach at my school) was offered a job at the University of Rhode Island. So that's where they'll be moving.
As for the diving coach, as far as I know her husband also got a job somewhere else and she'll be moving too.
My assistant coach and the men's asst coach are still around...
I guess from what the AD said, they'll be looking for a coach, but they might be combining the men's and women's again under a single head coach and hiring two or three more assistant coaches.
I guess the swimmers will be involved in the whole process of selecting the new coach. Or at least that's what they said.
I hope so.
At least......if the new coach is evil I won't feel as guilty about quitting because it won't be the coach who gave me a chance in the first place.
Well, maybe your coach next year will be even better than the one you had this year.
You haven't kept us posted on how things are going with your Master's swimming...... any improvements?
I haven't been allowed to swim with the masters, as my coach is worried it might be an NCAA violation.
Soooo since I have to swim on my own, and sincce it's like finals time, it's hard for me to get over to the pool.
The Masters team that swims at the U of C isn't USMS or ILMS affiliated (the athletic director didn't want it to be), and they don't do any competing at USMS sanctioned events.
What are the regulations on that anyway?
