Fellow Masters Swimmers,
Just thought I would see how everyone else felt after reviewing their past year or so of swimming.
I jumped back into the pool in November of 07 after being out of the water for 35 years. I am 49, about 5'7" and weigh 165. I was an average high school swimmer who stopped after my junior year. I swim at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.
I got back in simply because my daughter was swiming on the Rose Bowl team and I thought that her Dad's "priceless" racing tips and stroke instruction should be backed up by her father actually remembering how to swim again. Other than that, I had no goals. I just decided to not overthink my reasons and get back in.
The first few months were pretty awful. I typically got out after the first 30 minutes to hit the head, but really to just get a few minutes rest before finihsing up another 30 minutes. I was barely moving in my lane. It was the slowest lane and I stayed in the rear. That was fine with me. Anything faster was too painful.
I went three days a week, an hour each workout. After six months, I was still pretty darn slow. I dropped about 5 pounds but was eating more. I fiugred that my speed and everything else would remain the same. I swam in a team only meet and swam slow and was really tired in June of 08.
About July of 08, I had a few stronger workouts and noticed that I was creeping up in my lane. (I am more motivated by making a certain set than getting a certain race time.) I started making sets that were faster. I had a stroke lesson with my coach where my stroke was taped. I saw what I was doing wrong and started to correct flaws that I have had since I first started swimming.
My wife joined Masters in September and now goes 4 days a week. She swam in high school and really enjoys her workouts. I did not urger her to get back into swimming but I have never been so proud of her. She is much tougher than I and got through her first few months with much less complaining. Quite a babe.
I began to come 4 days and then five days a week this fall. Instead of getting weaker, I found that I was getting stronger. In December, I started dabbling in the lane with a 1:30 base for 100s (LCM) and am now in that lane for keeps. I bring up the rear but that is still a surprising accomplishment for me.
So, as it stands now, I look forward to workouts and no longer feel like I am incompetent in the pool. I still think of myself as a plodder, especially when I am in a lane with some really fast and technically beautiful swimmers. I find that instead of being intimidated, I am inspired to push myself just a bit harder and see what I can do. I never set a standard, I just see what happens and that is enough for me.
What keeps me coming back to the pool, and what kept me coming back especially in those early days when I could barely stay afloat, are my fellow swimmers. My favorite park of workout is seeing the familiar faces. In just a very short time, I have found a deeper level of respect and trust in that pool than I have in over 25 years of relationships in my working world. I suppose that you get those extra connections when you share in the effort and quiet tenacity that comes with swimming.
My six year old son is now on the Rose Bowl Development team. So, eveyone in my family swims. And my daugher no loinger has to endure her father's coaching tips. That stopped many months ago once I remembered just how hard this sport could be. Now I just feed her and get her to workout and let her coach do the heavy lifting.
Obviously, Masters has been a very positive experience for me and my family. I was wondering what your experiences have been. Have you ever considered quitting Masters? Anyting unusual about your experience? Why did you join? What were your breakthroughs? What are your ultimate goals?
Rob
I'm not a parent, but I can at least say from observation that it is good to let a child develop into an athlete/swimmer without unnecessary input and/or criticism from anyone beside their coach. Too many parents trying to relive their "glory days" and live vicariously through their child.
Seems even better that you have used your children's swimming experience to spawn a whole new experience of your own as a USMS swimmer. Keep up the hard work, and let your dedication to the sport serve as a great example to your kids that hard work pays off in some form or another (even if it isn't Olympic gold!).
Hi Ya'll. I'm a newbie to this forum, and a new swimmer. I just joined a masters swim team, in hopes to prepare for triathlon. Swimming to me is overwelming. I feel like I am sucking water after just 50M, and usually have to take a break, even though I am a cyclist and competitive runner. I really wish I would have swam during highschool and before. I am jealous of all of you who have that background. Aside from that, I think swimming is a beautiful sport in many ways. I am constantly amazed while I watch the good swimmers at our workouts make it look so effortless. I am trying to swim at least 4 times/week, and hope with time I will see improvement. I will be working with a coach at least 1 workout/week for the time being. I would love to hear about other people like me that have been successful at learning to swim at an older age. (I am 27). Also, any words of encouragement or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again. :applaud:
Your different attitude towards your daugher's competition was the basis of a tool I have used over the years. When I ran into a parent who was getting on their child's case about performance, we invited them to start swimming with the team's Masters group. We would keep on trying for quite some time because they were usually resistant. Once we had them though, their attitude generally changed very quickly. They then had respect for the athletic abilities of their children.
Rob -
I joined Master's back in 1999 (10 years removed from DII college swimming). A corporate downsizing took me back to the water. The only thing unusual about my swimming is that several of my 40's times are faster than my 30's and some are faster than my college days. Yes, I've considered quitting several times. It's usually when I get out of the water for a few weeks or a month or so and then try to get back. Or, when work and social pressures absorb the time available to swim. If not for teammates, I'd probably have quit at some time. The best thing is to know that you'll go thru those times and just find a way to overcome. Big meets, goals and friends will keep you involved. Congrats on your swimming thus far. Keep it up.
I can relate to this last post! I coached high level soccer for 5 years, and constantly endured sideline parents who could tell (and did, rather vociferously) their daughters how to play...and tell the coaches how to organize the team...and what was wrong with everything that was done.
The best thing was the "parent vs team" (which, once the girls were 13 years old, had to be switched to parent and kid team A vs parent and kid team B to avoid total annihilation of the parent team...)
One particular parent got his "commupance" when he had to take a week off work because of
a) blisters (which he sneered at before, when a girl was suffering from new boot syndrome...)
b) inability to descend stairs or anything else involving quad muscles
c) shin splints (guess 40 minutes of sprinting doesn't work for an armchair coach/athlete)
d) general whining and inability to "suck it up, buttercup" (a term he used frequently in reference to certain girls on the team)
parents and sideline observers should restrict their comments to positive or neutral ones UNLESS they are asked for their imput. "good game" or "good try" or "can't win them all" or "I like watching you play, no matter what the score" covers a lot, IMHO
I coach soccer and baseball as well and have had a pretty good relationship with my parents for the past four years. I simply tell them to have a great time and cheer on their kids. That is all I want them to do. All of them understand and enjoy the games more.
As far as swimming goes, unless you have been though the experience of semi-drowning as you finish up the 200 IM/500 free/ 100 fly, it is hard to understand the level of exaustion a swimmer endures just to touch the wall.
I now make a conscious decision to stay far enough away during a race so that my daughter cannot see me because she laughs whenever she sees me on the deck. I also never ask her about her times but simply ask "How did it feel?". Even then, I often do not see her until the end of an entire meet since she is off hanging with her team between races. That is as it should be and it just seems to work.
Her technique is so much more refined as such an early age that I find myself asking her (a 9 year old!) on proper drill technique and just technique in general. At first, she looked at me as if I was kidding, but I convinced her that I needed the same guidance for my swimming that she gets from her coach. Soon enough , she was specifically advising me on all sorts of areas that were very helpful.
It has been quite a nice revelation. I do think many parents would change their approach if they had to swim a 500 free. But most are very good parents and do a great job supporting their kids.
Rob
I have just joined Master Swimming for the first time since I got back into the pool. I swam competitively from 3rd grade all through high school and college, but found nothing to be involved in after that. I did surfing, scuba, sailing, and anything else I could do in the water except for competition swimming.
Late last year, after 3 months of self directed workouts, I entered 6 events in the Senior Olympics (55-60 age group), and surprised myself by taking gold in all six events. Now I am preparing for the Senior Olympic Nationals in San Francisco this August, competing with 13 thousand other swimmers.
This Saturday is my first Masters Swim meet, and I am a little more apprehensive about my abilities with these coached swimmers.
I look foward to this meet and am also getting ready for my first March 28 triathelon.
Wifey wants to know if i have my life insurance paid up.
