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.
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Former Member
Apologies up front for my heresy, but swimming isn't important.
Keep it all in perspective, and focus on what makes you happy. I swim because it keeps me healthy and I like my team mates and that makes me happy, but other than that, it's meaningless in the big sceme of things.
Until pretty recently, I had this mentality too. If a colleague or friend asked about my swimming, I'd often end the story with something like, "It's just swimming," or, "It's just for fun. No big deal."
What made me start to question the "it's just swimming" mentality was when over the past few years several close friends and contacts of mine were diagnosed with different life threatening illnesses and/ or serious injuries (certainly life changing events). Some of these friends are still fighting the battle and others have succumbed to the illness or injury and are no longer with us.
One common link among all these individuals was that they were determined (and they desired desperately) to get in the pool for another swim or another bike ride or another meet/ competition. They would alter their life and schedule (and often treatment) to make accommodations for just a swim. Often, one of the first questions out of their mouths was, "When can I swim?"
Take Marin Morrison for example. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. However, even after the diagnosis, she was determined to keep on swimming and competing even while the right side of her body was paralyzed and it was difficult for her to speak. With the support of her family, friends, and medical team, she met a dream to swim in the 2008 paralympics games. Although she finally passed in 2009, family and friends dressed in caps and goggles during her memorial to celebrate "Marin's last swim."
Swimming or biking became a MAJOR life priority in addition to being with family. So my question is, is it really meaningless in the big scheme of things?
Perhaps, but now I'm not so sure.
While reading this thread I can't help but think of the saying "Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water" referring to the art of Zen living. Perhaps for some of us, swimming is our "chop wood and carry water." Deceptively simple. Yet extremely important and meaningful in the big scheme of things.
Apologies up front for my heresy, but swimming isn't important.
Keep it all in perspective, and focus on what makes you happy. I swim because it keeps me healthy and I like my team mates and that makes me happy, but other than that, it's meaningless in the big sceme of things.
Until pretty recently, I had this mentality too. If a colleague or friend asked about my swimming, I'd often end the story with something like, "It's just swimming," or, "It's just for fun. No big deal."
What made me start to question the "it's just swimming" mentality was when over the past few years several close friends and contacts of mine were diagnosed with different life threatening illnesses and/ or serious injuries (certainly life changing events). Some of these friends are still fighting the battle and others have succumbed to the illness or injury and are no longer with us.
One common link among all these individuals was that they were determined (and they desired desperately) to get in the pool for another swim or another bike ride or another meet/ competition. They would alter their life and schedule (and often treatment) to make accommodations for just a swim. Often, one of the first questions out of their mouths was, "When can I swim?"
Take Marin Morrison for example. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. However, even after the diagnosis, she was determined to keep on swimming and competing even while the right side of her body was paralyzed and it was difficult for her to speak. With the support of her family, friends, and medical team, she met a dream to swim in the 2008 paralympics games. Although she finally passed in 2009, family and friends dressed in caps and goggles during her memorial to celebrate "Marin's last swim."
Swimming or biking became a MAJOR life priority in addition to being with family. So my question is, is it really meaningless in the big scheme of things?
Perhaps, but now I'm not so sure.
While reading this thread I can't help but think of the saying "Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water" referring to the art of Zen living. Perhaps for some of us, swimming is our "chop wood and carry water." Deceptively simple. Yet extremely important and meaningful in the big scheme of things.
