It's been cool for me over the last few years seeing and competing against a number of guys from both my age group and collegiate days. However, when I think back to my college team, in particular, I'm struck by how many guys are NOT back swimming and competing in Masters. I realize this is probably the wrong audience to ask (since we're back in the pool), but, since for me swimming & competing go hand in hand and I love swimming, I'm still puzzled why more people don't come back to the sport and to racing?
I'm still puzzled why more people don't come back to the sport and to racing?
Asks the guy whose blog is titled "bondage" and whose tagline contains the words "recovering ... addict". I'm sure you're using them lightheartedly, but these ideas also have a dark side, you know?
One word: burnout. It took me 33 years to recover from mine. I believe it is common in people of my generation, and I've talked to people who suggest it is common even today. We promote athletics and competition to our kids because it's supposed to be healthy. But at what point do we max out the benefits to physical health and start doing damage to psychological health? Do other youth sports commonly work their athletes so hard that they run away from it at the first opportunity, never to return?
I'm having a lot of fun with swimming and with masters competition now, but first I had to completely separate myself from what happened then. Now it's fun.
I'm still puzzled why more people don't come back to the sport and to racing?
Asks the guy whose blog is titled "bondage" and whose tagline contains the words "recovering ... addict". I'm sure you're using them lightheartedly, but these ideas also have a dark side, you know?
One word: burnout. It took me 33 years to recover from mine. I believe it is common in people of my generation, and I've talked to people who suggest it is common even today. We promote athletics and competition to our kids because it's supposed to be healthy. But at what point do we max out the benefits to physical health and start doing damage to psychological health? Do other youth sports commonly work their athletes so hard that they run away from it at the first opportunity, never to return?
I'm having a lot of fun with swimming and with masters competition now, but first I had to completely separate myself from what happened then. Now it's fun.
