I don't like swim practice

How about winter sports? I love snowboarding. Too bad the winter is warm this year in the Toronto area.

I like some aspects of swim practice and not others. I'm terrible with IM sets, for instance... also kicking (but at least unlike when I first started, I'm moving forward while kicking and not feeling as if I'm in a holding pattern) so those are very frustrating. But I figure they make the rest of the practice feel soooo good (sort of like what happens when you stop beating yourself over the head, maybe...). ;) And since I run as well as swim, the combination of the two keeps things fun.

Both, well will be both starting sunday. To address the "play" part, I always kinda wanted to play, so i signed up for an adult learn how to play hockey class/league thing. We spend 8 weeks learning how to skate forward, backward, stop, start, crossovers, etc.; then the hockey skills - shoot, pass, etc. Then 8 weeks of games against teams that have been learning the same stuff the previous 8 weeks. Heather, I'd offer to see if you wanted to go to the Hawks/Blue Jackets game when I'm in Chicago in a couple weeks, but I think I need to swim instead... Yeah, swimming pretty much wins out over most other extracurricular activities for me, too ... it caused some strain in a few friendships for awhile. You should try and swim with my team.

Yeah, swimming pretty much wins out over most other extracurricular activities for me, too ... it caused some strain in a few friendships for awhile. You should try and swim with my team. I need a ride to your place! otherwise i may take a ride on the EL to UIC and swim with the blue dolphins...

Hmmm ... UIC is a much, much, much nicer pool that the one I swim in. Ours is nice, but it's shallow. UIC has a strange configuration and sometimes in the early am you see cat sized rats running around but it's nice. We have our state meet there every year. That being said, my team is riddiculously fun, loud, and crazy. Well, the night crew is the early am swimmers are a bit less crazy.

Yes they do. There's a game against the Bluejackets while you are in town ... I PM'd you.

Do you play or watch? It's the only big team sport I understand - one of the results of spending lots and lots of time in ice rinks. Sean Hill's (NY Islanders) mom was a coach at our skate club. I LOVE hockey! Never played, but I think I would love that too. I used to be obsessed ... Great sport! Both, well will be both starting sunday. To address the "play" part, I always kinda wanted to play, so i signed up for an adult learn how to play hockey class/league thing. We spend 8 weeks learning how to skate forward, backward, stop, start, crossovers, etc.; then the hockey skills - shoot, pass, etc. Then 8 weeks of games against teams that have been learning the same stuff the previous 8 weeks. Heather, I'd offer to see if you wanted to go to the Hawks/Blue Jackets game when I'm in Chicago in a couple weeks, but I think I need to swim instead...

I need a ride to your place! otherwise i may take a ride on the EL to UIC and swim with the blue dolphins... Jeff Depending on where you stay, the Blue Dolphins have practices in the AM at a place called Moody Bible. There head coach is a friend of mine and he always provides good practices. Sometimes they are a phyiscal challenge and sometimes they are a mental challenge. When he is in a great mood, they are both...lol When will you be in Chicago? I will be there the week of Jan. 16-19. I plan on swimming with him while I am in town. Heather-where do you swim? Is it near Chicago?

I LOVE hockey! Never played, but I think I would love that too. I used to be obsessed ... Great sport! I have seen the Caps play a few times. Love going to see a live game...not soo much for hockey on tv. Where do the Blackhawks play? The United Center?

I have decided that now that I am a masters swimmer and am allowed to be coachless I will - and that keeps every single practice loveable and interesting. I've decided with Masters I am liking the freedom of practicing the things I want or feel I need to practice on - not what the group is practicing. So, since I am coachless, I create a workout based on my mood and how I am feeling for the day. Today I will work on my fly, with a little IM mixed in because I am up for the challenge of something tough and working on my weakest stroke. I may not end up breaking any records with this method but I have a long enough swim background that I can create challenging and interesting sets and become a pretty decent masters swimmer. But if you don't love practice, you need to change it up - either in the pool or out of the pool.