The primary goal you want to achieve in/through swimming?
Former Member
Please be as selective as possible in answering the poll--the question is about the primary (main) goal, so please try to avoid selecting too many answers. Thanks :)
So many people swim for speed, could someone tell me why they care so much about speed? To me, the practical aspects of swimming seems more important, such as endurance, long-distance swimming, etc., for example when you have to do that under certain circumstances in life (extreme example like the Titantic disaster). As for speed, unless a shark or whale is chasing you in the ocean, what's the practical importance of it, if not for competition? (If I get convinced I'll pay more attention to improve speed ;))
Speed is awesome and a nice high! You certainly can't compete effectively without it, and most of what I do in the pool is geared to competition.
In general, though, it's good to exercise all the body's energy systems. To me, lap swimming or long distance swimming is incredibly dull. I do endurance work in the pool, but if I want some real zone 2 work, I walk out the door and run. Not too concerned about being practical either; I just want my endorphins.
(When are we getting an endorphin smiley?)
Keeps me focused in life and out of trouble (for the most part.) :laugh2:
I liked (S)he-Man better, Cream Puff!
There's really no cream puff about you ...
I started out swimming again to get back into shape, so I voted maintain a strong body. But after 6-9 months I decided I wasn't happy just swimming for the sake of swimming. so I also voted swim faster.
I find it easier to put my body through 3 workouts a week, and fight with my wife for more pool time if I have races to train for, and results to show her that it's worth all the effort.
Intially, I swam to lose weight because my Knee surgeon said that all this weight wasn't good for my knee. Now, it is to swim faster and the to show that people who look like NFL Tight Ends can be good swimmers too!! Plus, I would like to do the times that I did in high school eventually. I have reason after reason for swimming.
So many people swim for speed, could someone tell me why they care so much about speed? To me, the practical aspects of swimming seem more important, such as endurance, long-distance swimming, etc., for example when you have to do that under certain circumstances in life (extreme example like the Titantic disaster). As for speed, unless a shark or whale is chasing you in the ocean, what's the practical importance of it, if not for competition? (If I get convinced I'll pay more attention to improve speed ;))
So many people swim for speed, could someone tell me why they care so much about speed?
Well...it is a competitive sport, after all...
I chose the two top answers, "swim faster" and "stronger body." I swim for health but having specific time goals helps motivate me to train harder (and presumably be healthier).
I got the need for speed. I picked all of them but other, because I'm in the pool for fun, but it's for competition. I think you need all of them to compete at your best, so I picked all of them.
