Hi everyone:
I just turned 37 years old and I'm going through midlife crisis. Long story short, I just started swimming again last week, and timed myself in the 200 meter free. I came in just under 2:35. When I was a youngster many years ago, I tried the Pentathlon (Shooting, fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, running). I quickly excelled in all the disciplines and finished 5th in the US. What kept me from being a contender to make the U.S. team, was my swim. Back then, I swam a 2:31 (after 6 mo practice). In order to be a contender, I'd have to swim about a 2:12. I have no swim coach, but I have all the free time to dedicate myself, and just for my own sake I want to see if I could at some time in my life achieve something close to a 2:12. For all you older swimmers who I admire so much, can you give me some realistic words of encouragement - or a reality check?
Parents
Former Member
Bobinator and Gigi: Thanks to the both of you for giving great advice. Gigi - thank you for your encouragement. I quit the modern pentathlon after my first year, thinking I had no chance of shaving off so much time in the swim portion. Now I realize that a 2:12 is really not all that phenomenal, and with proper training - tenchnique, discipline, and pushing myself, I could make alot of difference off the 2:31 I now swim with really no training. I spent the last couple of hours at the local swim center after reading Bobinator's response. Turns out the new highschool coach there comes from Arizona State and wants to help me. Tomorrow we are starting with him observing my stroke, and he's going to film and critique me. Next week I'm starting with the Masters Program, where I will implement his advice. I'm competing in the 2010 National Championships in the Modern Pentathlon as my first competition back, which will give me time to re-learn my technique in the swim portion. And since I was and still am very strong in the other disciplines, I can focus mostly on m8y swim. Anyway, thanks guys - I appreciate it a lot.
Bobinator and Gigi: Thanks to the both of you for giving great advice. Gigi - thank you for your encouragement. I quit the modern pentathlon after my first year, thinking I had no chance of shaving off so much time in the swim portion. Now I realize that a 2:12 is really not all that phenomenal, and with proper training - tenchnique, discipline, and pushing myself, I could make alot of difference off the 2:31 I now swim with really no training. I spent the last couple of hours at the local swim center after reading Bobinator's response. Turns out the new highschool coach there comes from Arizona State and wants to help me. Tomorrow we are starting with him observing my stroke, and he's going to film and critique me. Next week I'm starting with the Masters Program, where I will implement his advice. I'm competing in the 2010 National Championships in the Modern Pentathlon as my first competition back, which will give me time to re-learn my technique in the swim portion. And since I was and still am very strong in the other disciplines, I can focus mostly on m8y swim. Anyway, thanks guys - I appreciate it a lot.
