Hello,
I am a 50 year old female former age group swimmer. I've really enjoyed swim training for my recently complete first half ironman tri and would love to do some 1-2 mile OWS events.
If my 1.2 mile OWS time is ~40', will I be totally embarrassed in an event? I define totally embarrassed, as I'm still finishing while the organizers are ready to go home. Finishing in the bottom 1/3 is not a problem for me. This is about a fitness motivator and comraderie--not about winning :)
Also, please recommend a good first time event in the midwest. Thanks!
Well, guys, I DID get the slowest swimmer award in a recent swim and an award for third--of three--in my age group... and guess what--I felt nothing but joy, relief, pride in the accomplishment, and all kinds of good stuff. Yes, I was way slower in this swim than when I did it three years ago, but I figured my training was not going to lead to a fast time, just wanted to finish before they scooped me out of the water. I did that, and that was all I needed!
Embarrassment is something we don't have to choose. It's all in how we look at the picture.
I tend to finish near the end of the pack in swims, and at 59, I have to decide whether I'm going to let that fact keep me from taking the plunge--and so missing out on a lot of great opportunities to connect with other swimmers--or go for it, have fun, and as a running coach friend says, "take what the day gives you." Life is too short to do otherwise!
Here's a quote I like (despite the non-gender-inclusive language):
"It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly
so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
~ Theodore Roosevelt
Well, guys, I DID get the slowest swimmer award in a recent swim and an award for third--of three--in my age group... and guess what--I felt nothing but joy, relief, pride in the accomplishment, and all kinds of good stuff. Yes, I was way slower in this swim than when I did it three years ago, but I figured my training was not going to lead to a fast time, just wanted to finish before they scooped me out of the water. I did that, and that was all I needed!
Embarrassment is something we don't have to choose. It's all in how we look at the picture.
I tend to finish near the end of the pack in swims, and at 59, I have to decide whether I'm going to let that fact keep me from taking the plunge--and so missing out on a lot of great opportunities to connect with other swimmers--or go for it, have fun, and as a running coach friend says, "take what the day gives you." Life is too short to do otherwise!
Here's a quote I like (despite the non-gender-inclusive language):
"It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly
so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
~ Theodore Roosevelt
