Hi. :help:
Was just wondering how you handle practicing by yourself. My team only practices two times a week and that is obviously not enough time in the water to improve. At practice, we do anywhere between 3,200 and 3,800... and I usually do the same when I swim by myself (right now I'm getting in two solo practices, but I'd like to do more). Usually the USS team or High School is practicing at the same time and that sorta helps get me moving. But how do you guys motivate yourself to keep going - because weekly I am starting to ask myself - "why am I doing this"... when I'm trudging along solo. I do compete and love it... but I just get down and in the gutters once in a while. I usually get my workouts from the "workout forum" here on the site... but do you have any thoughts on how to get more motivated? I hope I don't sound desperate, but just need some feedback from those who are going thru the same thing.
Hi Morgan,
I'm sorry that you've got a lot to sort out here. I'm certainly not in your shoes but can share my experiences with you.
Do I regret not swimming in college? YES!
Do I regret not giving 100% in age group? YES!
Would I love to be paid to swim (even $100)? YES!
I have a little different take, which Morgan knows because I was in a similar college boat and we discussed it on another thread. I did swim in college, but I don't have any regrets about retiring mid-way due to a severe injury and coach-hating. I enjoyed the rest of college. I did give 100% during the time I swam. I liked my AAU team way better than high school or college teams. (High school was a bit of a formality because we mostly practiced with our AAU teams.) It's a big decision though ... But it's awfully hard to swim on a very small team like Morgan's with a coach you hate. I guess if you had fabulous teammates, that might help overcome the difficulties and make parts of it enjoyable. But college can be challenging enough without hating and despising the thought of going to practice every day.
You were lucky if you didn't have to experience that part, Kristina (at least I hope you didn't!). I think it makes you so much more enthusiastic and willing to respond to all these new challenges. Look at you now! I think you're doing a bit more than OK though. You're pretty amazing.
What I regret a bit, not too much, is becoming so obsessed with a fast track career and children that I didn't return to masters swimming until 24 years later. But at least I got off the fast track before imploding.
I would like to get paid $$$$ to swim though. Har, har.
Hi Morgan,
I'm sorry that you've got a lot to sort out here. I'm certainly not in your shoes but can share my experiences with you.
Do I regret not swimming in college? YES!
Do I regret not giving 100% in age group? YES!
Would I love to be paid to swim (even $100)? YES!
I have a little different take, which Morgan knows because I was in a similar college boat and we discussed it on another thread. I did swim in college, but I don't have any regrets about retiring mid-way due to a severe injury and coach-hating. I enjoyed the rest of college. I did give 100% during the time I swam. I liked my AAU team way better than high school or college teams. (High school was a bit of a formality because we mostly practiced with our AAU teams.) It's a big decision though ... But it's awfully hard to swim on a very small team like Morgan's with a coach you hate. I guess if you had fabulous teammates, that might help overcome the difficulties and make parts of it enjoyable. But college can be challenging enough without hating and despising the thought of going to practice every day.
You were lucky if you didn't have to experience that part, Kristina (at least I hope you didn't!). I think it makes you so much more enthusiastic and willing to respond to all these new challenges. Look at you now! I think you're doing a bit more than OK though. You're pretty amazing.
What I regret a bit, not too much, is becoming so obsessed with a fast track career and children that I didn't return to masters swimming until 24 years later. But at least I got off the fast track before imploding.
I would like to get paid $$$$ to swim though. Har, har.
