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?
Hi Jim:
Yes, I agree with you about the issue concerning "doing too much too soon". I've been "victim" of such practice many times and the outcome was either burn-out, or injury (mostly in running). Besides wanting to drastically cut my time in the swim, I also want to enjoy every step along the way...and being injured would not really be "enjoyable" :)
Reading your post, perhaps I don't have midlife crisis afterall. No radical changes, no wiping-the-slate-clean rebirth, no loss of job or broken relationship. And no, no recent incarceration in prison, LOL!!! Back in 05 after Nationals, I went from being a Real Estate broker (and having all the free time in the world) to becoming a cop in unform with a VERY structured life. After a few years of being a cop, I realized that I personally felt like I was "missing out" on life - on family - on sports - on free time, and on personal goals. Hey - once an athlete, always an athlete, right? I resigned and went back into Real Estate. After attending and watching this year's Modern Pentathlon Nationals and reacquainting myself with the athletes that are still competing, I realized that I still had some fire burning...and the next day I brought out my old bathing suit that looked in pretty sad shape, my scraped up goggles, and nearly drowned myself in the pool, LOL!!! Being very happy in my old career, having new found free time, and being in a VERY, VERY happy and healthy marriage with all the moral support I could ask for, I decided to revisit some long-lost passion in an effort not to make the US team, but to seek a personal best, and rather than "only" keeping a goal in mind, to actually embrace and enjoy the journey along the way. You did make me laugh though :).
Thanks for your input :)
Jim is the epitomy of classic Freudian "projection"...the "mid-life crisis" comment should have tipped you off right away! :)
Hi Jim:
Yes, I agree with you about the issue concerning "doing too much too soon". I've been "victim" of such practice many times and the outcome was either burn-out, or injury (mostly in running). Besides wanting to drastically cut my time in the swim, I also want to enjoy every step along the way...and being injured would not really be "enjoyable" :)
Reading your post, perhaps I don't have midlife crisis afterall. No radical changes, no wiping-the-slate-clean rebirth, no loss of job or broken relationship. And no, no recent incarceration in prison, LOL!!! Back in 05 after Nationals, I went from being a Real Estate broker (and having all the free time in the world) to becoming a cop in unform with a VERY structured life. After a few years of being a cop, I realized that I personally felt like I was "missing out" on life - on family - on sports - on free time, and on personal goals. Hey - once an athlete, always an athlete, right? I resigned and went back into Real Estate. After attending and watching this year's Modern Pentathlon Nationals and reacquainting myself with the athletes that are still competing, I realized that I still had some fire burning...and the next day I brought out my old bathing suit that looked in pretty sad shape, my scraped up goggles, and nearly drowned myself in the pool, LOL!!! Being very happy in my old career, having new found free time, and being in a VERY, VERY happy and healthy marriage with all the moral support I could ask for, I decided to revisit some long-lost passion in an effort not to make the US team, but to seek a personal best, and rather than "only" keeping a goal in mind, to actually embrace and enjoy the journey along the way. You did make me laugh though :).
Thanks for your input :)
Jim is the epitomy of classic Freudian "projection"...the "mid-life crisis" comment should have tipped you off right away! :)
