I was at work yesterday and got asked an unusual question: How do I stay motivated to swim hours a day, every day, year after year?
I told the person that I would get back to them while I mulled over the answer. I thought back to this forum and suspect that most of the folks here compete and the competition motivates them. Me, I don’t compete, in fact, I only know how to swim one stroke, at one speed, never stopping. I guess that I just like to swim and be alone for a couple of hours every day with my own thoughts. While that works for me, I doubt it will prove useful for many others. So, how about the rest of you: What motivates you to keep swimming?
Swan
Former Member
It's either swimming 5 days a week, or a return to the severe back pain I had for the 3 years before I got back into the pool....:cane:
I swear, I could do without the permanent stink of chlorine in my skin though......
any ideas on how to get rid of that?
Swan
I have been thinking about this a great deal lately. My base motivation is the exercise factor. I require at least four hard workouts a week to maintain my health and sanity. I took up swimming two years ago to prepare for a triathlon and now all I ever do is swim. Running hurt too much and I got sick of being injured. During the last year when I was cycling I would rather have been swimming. So for the past two months all I have been doing is swimming. Lessons every week are included which has been a huge help. I find myself totally addicted. The physical rewards have become secondary to the learning curve and the HUGE sense of accomplishing something that has been very difficult to learn for me. No competitions........yet. Thinking about trying to learn the fly........at age 47. Sounds hard. I'm in!
Regards
Spudfin
Motivation to keep on swimming
Swan, there was a thread recently on people (especially at work) who just don't get it and ask idle questions or pass judgment, idly, on those who pursue something a bit out of their own experience. Based on thread responses, it seem rarely possible to have a real discussion, so I would just smile politely, murmur something general and innocuous ("It isn't that hard"), and change the topic.
Regards,
VB
VB,
The curiosity is now more for myself: What motivates people.
About the passing judgement part, I surely don't understand why I swim the way I do, but I just figure it's kind of like Allen said: "is just part of my being. I am therefore I swim." (Thanks Allen)
Swan
...Thinking about trying to learn the fly........at age 47. Sounds hard. I'm in!
Regards
Spudfin
I learned at 44/45, so it's certainly do-able. Strange as it may seem, I really enjoy fly. Having lots of different strokes to work on keeps it interesting and is a better overall workout.
I learned at 44/45, so it's certainly do-able. Strange as it may seem, I really enjoy fly. Having lots of different strokes to work on keeps it interesting and is a better overall workout.
Ripple:
I only know how to do one stroke. I'm thinking that now both you and Spudfin have motivated me. Perhaps it will be my summer project next year!
Thanks,
Swan
What motivates you to keep swimming?
Swan
That one day I will be reunited with my abdominal muscles...I just need to quit chocolate, pie and ice cream!
It's either swimming 5 days a week, or a return to the severe back pain I had ... I could do without the permanent stink of chlorine in my skin though....
Similar case here; decided to turn necessity into something I could look forward to and enjoy the achievements of.
For chlorine, I use good-quality shower gels or bath oils, sometimes enjoying the eau de chlorine first as a reminder of the time in the pool.
VB
