I want to ask questions about the life of a Champion.
If you are a World Record Holder, a National Record Holder, a State/Provincial record holder, a Club record holder, or even if you've recently gone a personal best; I want to know how you feel about being a Champion.
Masters win, regardless of place!
See, doing your best, no matter what level you achieve is a great experience. The feeling of improvement from consistent effort is something that anyone can attain. That joy is the same when you finish a race and you know it was your best, a great lifestyle, something worth striving for.
Since I've already started a discussion with Chris Stevenson, perhaps we can continue it here.
Chris, even though you may not have smiled at first (on camera anyways) how did the next few days feel? Are these your first WR titles? Do you plan on more in the future? You're a chemistry teacher, right? Do you realize you've inspired me, and countless others?
Chris, even though you may not have smiled at first (on camera anyways) how did the next few days feel? Are these your first WR titles? Do you plan on more in the future? You're a chemistry teacher, right? Do you realize you've inspired me, and countless others?
Truly, I'm glad you have been inspired, but this sort of discussion is uncomfortable for me.
This is a great sport. I think there are a lot of very compelling and inspiring stories in masters swimming -- and not just those of "champions" -- and I would love to read their posts. I am personally interested in (and inspired by) the stories of those who take up the sport seriously as adults and stuck with it. It can be so intimidating to those who didn't grow up swimming.
(Jonathan, if we're at the same meet, introduce yourself sometime. I'll keep talking as long as you keep the beer flowing...) :drink:
(Jonathan, if we're at the same meet, introduce yourself sometime. I'll keep talking as long as you keep the beer flowing...) :drink:
Sure as rain, I'll do that. Actually, I haven't raced yards since I was a kid, I think it would be fun...
As far as the original thread, anyone else care to share? A best time is a best time is a best time... Way to go!!
Chris, what is your swimming background?
My swimming life in a nutshell:
I grew up (mostly) in San Jose, California and started swimming year-round at 8 years old. And have been doing so ever since (though we moved first to Greece and then to Raleigh, NC).
I swam all four years in college, at UNC (= University of National Champions...I mean, U of N Carolina). I was a two-time All-American in college.
I went to grad school at U of Florida and almost immediately met a former Gator swimmer while we were swimming laps at the gym pool. She had started swimming masters and raved about it ("Short practices! You can skip any set you want! Or skip entire practices!") I started and was hooked. The beers after Friday practices helped, too.
I met my wife thru masters swimming (I've often wondered how many "USMS couples" there are out there. I think it would make a nice story.)
I have gone thru long periods of reduced workouts and not competing (especially on the path to tenure) and experimenting with other sports (well, one other sport: cycling) but I have not spent more than about 2 months completely out of the water.
About 2-3 years ago I had some poor blood test results in a checkup. I subsequently lost 30 pounds and decided to train swimming more seriously, and start lifting weights again. And here we are today.
I'm 1/4 of two mixed 800 SCM free national records... and it feels pretty good! It is nice to brag about - I have the certificate from the first one framed and in our family room area.
But having just set the second record, I feel a great sense of accomplishment as well as amazement. My split was over 3 seconds faster than my fastest previous individual 200SCM free. It also came a bit over three months from a pretty serious knee injury that kept me out of the pool for a month and in limited action for most of the fall. I was shocked at how fast I went. Finally, it was also nice to share the accomplishment with my gf, as she led us off and this was her first national record.
Also, Chris, I didn't really take up swimming until pretty late... swam summer leagues since age 6, joined my HS team for only my JR & SR years, and then joined my masters team once I got to college. No USS or NCAA experience for me. So I didn't technically pick up the sport as an adult, but still pride myself on the fact that my swim career is pretty much all USMS-related.
A great story. Relay swimming is a fun thing -- hopefully you can recapture that swim in an individual event sometime soon!
A great story. Relay swimming is a fun thing -- hopefully you can recapture that swim in an individual event sometime soon!
It is - I had 11 events booked for that meet... this was in the middle, and I was already really tired, and felt the lactic acid building up mid-swim and kept saying to myself "don't let down your teammates." Mollie's constant smile all evening was worth all the pain.
It can be so intimidating to those who didn't grow up swimming.
(QUOTE]
Boy do you have that right. That intimidation factor is one thing that keeps me from going to meet sometimes. The main reason is the drive, 2 hours to get to most meets. But then I think, do I want to drive 2 hours and look like a fool in front of people who have been swimming all their lives? So I stay in my own little pond, and work on my own times, and the aerobic ladies think I am the most graceful thing ever(I swim during their class), and life is good.
Dorothyrde,
That is an issue true but also think about it this way. Do you want to drive 2 hours, compete against yourself and meet a new group of people who share your interests?
Meeting new people is a driving force for my attending SCY Nats in the Spring. Am I gonna win any of my events? Probably not? Will I place top 10? An outside chance. Will I concentrate on meeting people, definately.
My advice? Do not think of it as embarrasing yourself, concentrate on doing your best and having fun. Regardless of where everyone is now in thier swimming ability, all of us were less than fast at some point in our careers and some still are. But if you have fun and continue to challenge yourself, you will grow more than you realize.
Paul
Place in the top 10? Then you are pretty good. I believe I was about second to last the Nationals I went to. I went for the experience, it was fun. Everyone was really, really tall.
Even if you don't have an official record in the books, you do have personal goals and best times... Like RTodd, he's only been swimming for three years, and he has the opportunity to still improve, and that is a fun experience...
Having the time of my life.
Place in the top 10? Then you are pretty good. I believe I was about second to last the Nationals I went to. I went for the experience, it was fun. Everyone was really, really tall.
Well, that maybe a stretch too. That requires me to drop about 3 seconds for both 50 Free and 50 Fly. Not sure that's gonna happen. But the point was go, challenge yourself, have fun, meet new people.
Paul
