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?
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.
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.
That's Great! That's what I'm talking about... The joy from an accomplishment, knowing you did your best.... way to go!!
I'd like to ask more questions from other members, do you care to join my Interview(s) with the Champion(s) thread? See, for me, anyone that trains regularly is a winner... A true Champion... The results are measured on your own clock, and the joy is equally as great.
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... I remeber growing up, and the joy from going best times as an age-grouper, and I wish I could live those experiences over again... I suppose that's partly why I'm a master now...
That's the advantage a newcomer to our sport has, with just a little guidance and the right approach, they can have appropriate adaptation, and truly gain from the joy of going best times.
If you swim regularly, then you are a Winner!
I am personally interested in (and inspired by) the stories of those who take up the sport seriously as adults and stuck with it.
Chris, what is your swimming background?
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?
I have been swimming all my life, and now you know that -- far from looking like a fool -- I am very impressed by people like you. It is very admirable to step way outside of your comfort zone and try something like competing at nationals (or any meet).
Competition is not for everyone but don't miss out because of how you think you might look to others. There is nothing to worry about. Good luck!
Oh I will get there. There are two meets that are closer that I will try and get to. They both conflict with my daughter's meets though, and right now she comes first. Soon enough she will be grown and then my time is more my own. Meanwhile I keep working out, and hopefully getting better. 8 years ago a 25 was all I could muster to swim without stopping. I have now done a 400 IM and a 1000 free in a meet, and was not last! My goal for the 1000 free was to do flip turns through the whole thing, which I did. The IM was just to keep the strokes from breaking down, which I did. I like the sprints, but my starts and turns are not good, so I lose a lot on that. I can work the turns where I swim, but not the starts.
Anyway, I am happy to be in the pool, and have come a far way in 8 years.
Oh I will get there. There are two meets that are closer that I will try and get to. They both conflict with my daughter's meets though, and right now she comes first. Soon enough she will be grown and then my time is more my own. Meanwhile I keep working out, and hopefully getting better. 8 years ago a 25 was all I could muster to swim without stopping. I have now done a 400 IM and a 1000 free in a meet, and was not last! My goal for the 1000 free was to do flip turns through the whole thing, which I did. The IM was just to keep the strokes from breaking down, which I did. I like the sprints, but my starts and turns are not good, so I lose a lot on that. I can work the turns where I swim, but not the starts.
Anyway, I am happy to be in the pool, and have come a far way in 8 years.
Dorothy, I hope you make it to the Danville meet this January! Chris will definitely be there and, barring another 'Carrie is a moron pork chop ER incident', I plan to be there too!
Cool thread. I am not a champion, but still doing best times at age 33 and after a kid, so I'm a happy camper! :)
Jonathan, that would be interesting to measure. I do get feedback from former age groupers and college swimmers who say they envy the newness of the sport in me. To them, the sport became a chore and many went away from it in their 20's and then come back in their 30's and 40's. The decline they have from the break and aging dismays them. they watch my drive and enthusiasm for swimming say 31 in the 50 free, and wish they had it, because even though they can swim much faster without a lot of training, they don't get the same joy, because they remember much faster times. It tends to discourage them.
I figure that the gap will close a bit as I get older. Perhaps in about 15 years when I am in the 60 year old age group. In looking at my parents, I have tremendously good genetics on my side, and have consistency in fitness that a lot of people my age struggle to attain. I have determination and focus, and simply just enjoy this journey.
Dorothy, I hope you make it to the Danville meet this January! Chris will definitely be there and, barring another 'Carrie is a moron pork chop ER incident', I plan to be there too!
Cool thread. I am not a champion, but still doing best times at age 33 and after a kid, so I'm a happy camper! :)
Carrie, it would be GREAt to see you there. I have the entry filled out on my desk, but BIG conflict. My daughter's swim team is running their big 3 day invitational in Urbana. Last year we had 500+ swimmers. Entries open tomorrow, and I am entry chair and computer chair extroidinaire. I have been making noise to the people who work computers for me that I want to skip out late Saturday morning, and would be back by late Saturday afternoon, and so far I don't think they realize what I am asking them to do.;)
However, they need to learn to stand on their own, cause my daughter is in HS and I won't be around too much longer. She is a drama and music queen, and plays take tons of time, which is leaving her less and less time for swimming.
I can always leave my phone on, right?
they watch my drive and enthusiasm for swimming say 31 in the 50 free, and wish they had it, because even though they can swim much faster without a lot of training, they don't get the same joy, because they remember much faster times.
So true. I remember hearing some older guys at Colonies Zones being elated with their 31s and 32s in the 50 SCM Free... first thinking "boring!" and then realizing they're 60+ and thinking "holey moley, I hope I am that fast in 40 years!" They were pretty appreciative of my "great swim, gentlemen" when they got out too... we are all champions in our own right.
