Masters Experience After 15 months

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