Solo Swimmers

Feel free to start a new thread about you, and I will promise not to ever, EVER post on it. I can't speak for 67, but I'm guessing he might feel the same way. I only commented because if anyone is reading that, I would hate for them to not understand that the medical field is very, very judicious in making sure its practicing physicians are very much up to speed on what is known. Unfortunately between the stupid pharma advertising on TV (illegal everywhere in the world except here and New Zealand!), and flippin' Press-Ganey surveys which have done more to create the opioid crisis than all the poppies in Afghanistan, more and more people feel that their doctors are supposed to be told how to do their job. (Oops, I went chasing a squirrel, didn't I?) But yes, it stinks getting old, and the injuries and stuff that comes from it. You couple that with the fact that most of us here are probably pushing ourselves a whole lot harder than most people in the pool with us, and most people who are trying to just keep fit who are our age, and we're probably going to be in pain a bit more. And the sport is not as common as the stuff that is considered "revenue generating" in college, meaning that physicians who know about the little technical details are not as common as ones who repair ACL's on football players. But just like when I argue with Porsche owners (and I am one)......just because Porsche makes the engine doesn't mean it obeys a different law of physics than all of the other engines out there. So, latest two "solo swimmer" stories, one for a chuckle, one for a simultaneous groan and inspiration. The chuckle......so, is it a testament to one's effort, or an indictment of their conditioning when, after finishing up a hard set or test swim, one is breathing so hard, someone steps out of the sauna (sealed door!) to make sure whoever is making all that noise is okay!? Second. I think I've shared the story of the guy who wears a diving mask, fins, paddles, and lays across a noodle who kinda-sorta does something resembling sculling for his 5 minute lap time. Lately there is a lady who doesn't walk that well who swims. Upright.....legs dangling. Kinda moves them a little, but not to get them higher up or provide any propulsion. Pulls mostly with her right arm, it is the one that comes out of the water. Left one does move, but always underwater. Doesn't have the best DPS........out of curiosity, and while resting to "full recovery"*, I counted strokes. Never exactly swims wall to wall, so a little short of that. 44 strokes with the right arm, so if the left counts, 88. To go less than 20 yards. So while it is certainly inspiring to see someone with limited mobility get out and do that, I'm constantly fighting the urge to go over and try to teach her she'll be a lot better off if she can try to get body to be a little more flat and less upright (and I'm serious, not quite 90 degrees to the surface, but a good 75 or 80). Or to ever suggest she try a pull buoy. I really enjoy when the triathletes or other swimmers talk to you and compliment you. Makes it feel like they'd appreciate any feedback, and I really enjoy giving it to those guys, in the hopes that they might make their stroke more efficient. *Full recovery? That's like a hang over. I can't fully recover in the middle of a workout! Especially in 1-2 extra minutes! I can't recover from too much to drink at breakfast! I may become functional, but it takes until the following day to fully recover!!!!

Feel free to start a new thread about you, and I will promise not to ever, EVER post on it. I can't speak for 67, but I'm guessing he might feel the same way. I only commented because if anyone is reading that, I would hate for them to not understand that the medical field is very, very judicious in making sure its practicing physicians are very much up to speed on what is known. Unfortunately between the stupid pharma advertising on TV (illegal everywhere in the world except here and New Zealand!), and flippin' Press-Ganey surveys which have done more to create the opioid crisis than all the poppies in Afghanistan, more and more people feel that their doctors are supposed to be told how to do their job. (Oops, I went chasing a squirrel, didn't I?) But yes, it stinks getting old, and the injuries and stuff that comes from it. You couple that with the fact that most of us here are probably pushing ourselves a whole lot harder than most people in the pool with us, and most people who are trying to just keep fit who are our age, and we're probably going to be in pain a bit more. And the sport is not as common as the stuff that is considered "revenue generating" in college, meaning that physicians who know about the little technical details are not as common as ones who repair ACL's on football players. But just like when I argue with Porsche owners (and I am one)......just because Porsche makes the engine doesn't mean it obeys a different law of physics than all of the other engines out there. So, latest two "solo swimmer" stories, one for a chuckle, one for a simultaneous groan and inspiration. The chuckle......so, is it a testament to one's effort, or an indictment of their conditioning when, after finishing up a hard set or test swim, one is breathing so hard, someone steps out of the sauna (sealed door!) to make sure whoever is making all that noise is okay!? Second. I think I've shared the story of the guy who wears a diving mask, fins, paddles, and lays across a noodle who kinda-sorta does something resembling sculling for his 5 minute lap time. Lately there is a lady who doesn't walk that well who swims. Upright.....legs dangling. Kinda moves them a little, but not to get them higher up or provide any propulsion. Pulls mostly with her right arm, it is the one that comes out of the water. Left one does move, but always underwater. Doesn't have the best DPS........out of curiosity, and while resting to "full recovery"*, I counted strokes. Never exactly swims wall to wall, so a little short of that. 44 strokes with the right arm, so if the left counts, 88. To go less than 20 yards. So while it is certainly inspiring to see someone with limited mobility get out and do that, I'm constantly fighting the urge to go over and try to teach her she'll be a lot better off if she can try to get body to be a little more flat and less upright (and I'm serious, not quite 90 degrees to the surface, but a good 75 or 80). Or to ever suggest she try a pull buoy. I really enjoy when the triathletes or other swimmers talk to you and compliment you. Makes it feel like they'd appreciate any feedback, and I really enjoy giving it to those guys, in the hopes that they might make their stroke more efficient. *Full recovery? That's like a hang over. I can't fully recover in the middle of a workout! Especially in 1-2 extra minutes! I can't recover from too much to drink at breakfast! I may become functional, but it takes until the following day to fully recover!!!!