Okay so compared to some of you I am barely wet or a swimmer yet,, but I have started swimming again back in Sept of this year and am going 4 mornings a week. I am pretty proud of myself and can see that this is something I am going to do for life. A. because I like it and B. because I have to for both my physical and mental health.
So as my friends and co-workers realize what I am doing I am surprised that 75% of them think I am crazy. Why would I do that? Getting up so early is dumb? I am never going to keep doing this. I am over 40 so I should be happy with who I am. OMG it makes me crazy:frustrated:. The other 25% might think the early morning practices are crazy but they think what I am doing is wonderful. ( though they would never do it :lmao:)
I just do not understand why people think they can tell me what they think especially when it is negative and really none of their business. My one girlfriend who is in kick A$$ shape said " they are jealous" they are used to seeing you how you are. To know that you are going to change your body and just be more mentally strong makes them realize that they are weak. I laughed but maybe she has a point.
Another wise friend said, " they have not gone through what you have in the past couple of years: Thryoid cancer and a daughter diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa ( degenerative eye disease) so they dont know that you need to do this for you.
I think there is a time in ones life to step it up and really enjoy and push yourself or stay the same and watch your body and mind start to deteriorate. I AM READY FOR CHANGE.
But I just wish people would stop giving me their 2 cents when I never asked for their opinions in the first place.
Please tell me this has happened to others, or I am just lucky to be surrounded by lots of would be Dr Phil's?
Katie
Former Member
Remember it is not self-aggrandizing or selfish to want to compete in meets and have fun.
There's nothing wrong with self aggrandizement--when used in the sense of enhancement, rather than exaggeration.
Swimmers are the most dedicated individuals to their sport. I argue this point all the time to "other sport" coaches. Noone goes through as much as swimmers do. Name another sport that does it pretty much deaf, half blind and almost nekked.
Some will never know, others will never see. - Ray Bussard
Fort I hear you. I wish I could compete more, not because I am any good, but because I enjoy it and it helps to have a goal to train for. I keep telling myself to be patient and that in 4 years the last one skips off to college and maybe my time will be my own(although my money probably will not be).
Dorothy we all eagerly await your 48 US states swim meet tour in 2011!
;)
Fort,
Someone is literally plagiarizing from American Heritage Dictionary:
self-aggrandizement:
noun: The act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one's own importance, power, or reputation
Don't sweat it -- most of us get your desire to compete. I'm not sure what he's driving at. :dunno:
Nothing wrong here at all. Carry on:bighug:
Mark
What makes you think I would use it for "exaggeration?" I'm not sure I even understand what that means in this context.
I just flat out like to compete in meets, and I do it damn seldomly. I think they're fun. I like to race. And I can't train without them. I don't begrudge fitness swimmers. I applaud their efforts. But I think they or others should not criticize my desire to compete.
Fort I agree with you. I love to compete. It gives me something to work for in practice. If I didn't look forward to meets, I wouldn't be in the water as much.
Shark you are right too. When I was coaching the high school wrestling coach would bring in a couple wrestlers to help with conditioning. They quickly found a new appreciation for swimmers and could not wait to get back to the mat.
I think any athlete who pursues any sport(or stroke for that matter) is worthy of respect.Even though I curse them under my breath when they mess up my swim, I even respect noodlers as they are being active and many are doing the most exercise they can tolerate,and thats much better than being a couch potato.
I love to compete.It gives me something to build my workouts around.If I didn't compete I'd probably swim a mile 3-4 days a week and that would be it,except I'd skip more workouts probably.I know people can measure their progress/regress many ways;pounds,inches,ability to complete a set,etc. but for me the best measurement is how I do at my taper meet.:groovy::groovy:
What I was driving at was is nothing wrong with enhancing (aggrandizing) oneself's power, strength, or knowledge.
That's what I thought you were driving at too, and I completely agree with you.
Cross country. Although, you're not quite as nekkid, you can't hear anything, there is no black line to follow so getting lost is always possible; you can't count laps so you have to feel your distance, and you never know where the finish is until you can finally see it; The race changes based on weather. Lap swimmers are in optimal conditions. X-Country can change during the race. There is wind, rain, hills, mud, sand, water and contact from other competitors. I'd see more broken bones at a X-Country meet than a football game.
And lastly, (I loved to say this to the "ball" players) My sport is your sport's punishment!
Honestly, I don't think you can compare them because the technical skill of swimming is so much bigger a part of the sport. Especially if you compare Sprints (running) to swimming; no skill at all. You either have fast twitch or you don't. Its all genetics.
Yeah, I enjoy that saying, "my sport is your sport's punishment"--another one that I've seen adapted to running, swimming, and rowing is "Athletes . Others just play games." :D
But Allen Stark has it right... whatever gets ya movin'! In fact, gotta get movin' right now... to catch a quick swim before the pool closes... Knee yelled at me today when I attempted a long run, and I'm so grateful now to have two sports to enjoy and (albeit slowly) compete in!
