I posted a version of this on the non-swimming related posts, but I'm posting here again because I'm trying to figure this out more specifically.
I want to swim faster but I want to do other stuff in my life. This week I went to hear Emily Elbert at Berklee College of Music as part of its Rock and Pop night (she is awesome!), practiced speaking bad Spanish with a neighbor, but this was fun nonetheless, went to an African dance class and then walked from this class to the pool, where I proceeded to swim wearing a T-shirt and tights for drag, which is supposed to help me improve my catch. At home, pretty wiped out after dance/drag swim combo.
I want to see if I can get faster and stronger as a swimmer, but this takes much dedication. I am not of the elite variety but qualify for distance events at nationals and probably at long course nationals. So I want to train for long course nationals.
But I don't want to be obsessed. My exercises to keep my arms attached to my shoulders, my back in line, and my knees strong take me about an hour. I'm supposed to do them every day. I give practice my all and generally am a noodle for the rest of the day. I have a book project due that I have procrastinated because of "fatigue" from swimming (nice excuse).
Swimming makes me happy but I want to do other things. It's sailing season, for example. And tennis is fun. And doing more creative work is a goal. Is it possible to be well rounded and not be obsessed with swimming, but still get stronger? As in, a lot stronger? Without devoting all my spare time to it?
I do seem to have plenty of time to watch America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, other trashy TV. I'd like to read more books and ditch the TV. That will be tough.
Sleep also is a goal. Hard to come by. I do continue to write my soldier (never met) in Afghanistan and realize I have no reasons to complain about anything in my life, given what she is up against.
Still, balance? Swim speed = intense swim focus? I swim four times a week, about 14,000 to 16,000 yards a week.
I think the answer to your question is obvious. You've practically answered it yourself!
Simply get Emily Elbert, your Spanish-speaking neighbor, your African dancing class partners, and your soldier to join your swimming team.
Get one of the swim MP3 players and listen to great literature via books on tape during swimming practice, pausing to chat during breaks in the intervals.
You can also listen to books on tape that discuss sailing, tennis strategy, and summarize the plots of recent episodes of your favorite tv shows.
Embrace your swimming obsession. Do not attempt to bring the swimming pool to Isobel's world. Bring Isobel's world to the swimming pool.
The answer is more, not less pathology; more, not less, focus on your swimming!
Actually, Ande's advice is superb. Balance, perspective, a nice life: I daresay such advice is second only to mine.
Ditch the TV. Not hard.
I would second focusing on swimming while swimming, then put it out of mind the rest of the day.
If book project is your living, is it being relegated to second place?
I have written some books. I can't do anything else while writing - no other work or regular exercise commitments but walking.
Perhaps you are in the stage of circling your book project.
Embrace your swimming obsession. Do not attempt to bring the swimming pool to Isobel's world. Bring Isobel's world to the swimming pool.
Well, I have been wanting to do a performance art piece at the pool (aside from my meet performance art 400 IMs). So I could combine some of my creative energy there. Just have to find willing swimmers/dancers.
Can't ditch TV. Obviously must create reality show where swim team lives at pool, has me making them do dances, they create alliance to vote me off, someone feels bad so buys me a Boston terrier puppy, they allow me to stay, I make an incredible documentary about the true world of masters swimming, I become very rich, I pay for Mr. Thornton's health insurance.
Ya.
...
I want to swim faster but I want to do other stuff in my life...
I want to see if I can get faster and stronger as a swimmer, but this takes much dedication. ...
But I don't want to be obsessed...
Swimming makes me happy but I want to do other things. It's sailing season, for example. And tennis is fun. And doing more creative work is a goal. Is it possible to be well rounded and not be obsessed with swimming, but still get stronger? As in, a lot stronger? Without devoting all my spare time to it?
I do seem to have plenty of time to watch America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, other trashy TV. I'd like to read more books and ditch the TV. That will be tough.
...
Still, balance? Swim speed = intense swim focus? I swim four times a week, about 14,000 to 16,000 yards a week.
I don't think you're much different than the vast majority of us on these forums or in this crazy sport. Life is (IMHO) about a multitude of experiences and is not (IMHO rich enough if only) about the pursuit of excellence in a singular activity.
However, life is also about balance, trade-offs and setting realistic expectations relative to the effort you're willing to put into any single activity. Pursue all of those things you want to, but set goals relative to the effort going into each.
For example, I want to do very well professionally and sometimes get a twinge of "under-performer's anxiety" when I remind myself that the CEO of my company (a ~$3B global services firm) is a few years younger than me ... but I know the sacrifices it took for him to get there and know that I'm not willing to make those sacrifices as doing so would preclude my other interests.
Now, as for my thoughts on swimming:
You're swimming enough QUANTITY already to go faster
Focus more on two aspects of QUALITY
Technique -- you'll see more gains more quickly by getting more efficient/effective in your strokes than by doing more yards. Get critiqued and video'd; think "perfect stroke" as much as you can in your workouts; seek as much feedback on your technique from your coaches, swimming friends, etc. as possible (and then apply it back in your training)
Speed -- once you have honed your technique, spend more of those ~15K yards swimming fast and less swimming slow
It's really that simple ... (harder to do, but that simple in direction)
Former Member
You may be able to fit in morning workouts.
I find that my time from about 10pm to 12 midnight is usually wasted watching mindless television programs, and I'm better off just getting to bed early, getting up at 6am, and putting in an hour in the pool.
Maybe this will be a way you can engage in other activities during the day, without them being disrupted by having to get to the pool by 5pm.
Now, as for my thoughts on swimming:
You're swimming enough QUANTITY already to go faster
Focus more on two aspects of QUALITY
Technique -- you'll see more gains more quickly by getting more efficient/effective in your strokes than by doing more yards. Get critiqued and video'd; think "perfect stroke" as much as you can in your workouts; seek as much feedback on your technique from your coaches, swimming friends, etc. as possible (and then apply it back in your training)
Speed -- once you have honed your technique, spend more of those ~15K yards swimming fast and less swimming slow
It's really that simple ... (harder to do, but that simple in direction)
Very good advice. I find myself thinking "I can't go sailing because then my arms will be too tired for swimming" (this is very true!), or after practice I find myself sinking into my bed instead of working (freelancer) because I have swum my butt off, and there are all these great drills on this forum, and great ideas for swimming faster, and good ideas for technique, and, well, you get the idea. I get tired.
I've gone to morning practices a few times and I am toast the rest of the day.
I wasn't like this before I started masters swimming. Hmmm. Is it an addiction?
Former Member
Do what makes you happy.
Live within your means.
Enjoy the now, not yearn for the then.
Life is the journey.
:2cents:
Former Member
If you really love swimming and want to do it all the time, thats fantastic. I love swimming and training but then I started drinking a whole lot and pretty much stopped. I'm in college, not on a college team and we don't have a club team. But after college I'm going to need masters swimming to change up my rutine. So I really don't see your problem with loving swimming. I think thats a good thing that you feel that way.
