What I‘m Hoping to Gain from Masters Swimming

I’ve touched on my goals for swimming a couple of times, the most recent I believe was my October 26, 2006 post ‘Summer Weight Program’ where I officially wrote off the 2006/2007 season in favour of starting a full weight program immediately. Not difficult to do since only just beginning swimming competitively meant I never had any expectations for this, my first season. Nor am I particularly concerned with what times I might eventually realize. Swimming simply provides a splendid environment for my naturally competitive nature to continue working hard on my rehabilitation. I would never, ever be swimming Masters otherwise. So my goal is to lose all my excess fat and rebuild myself back to the 88 or 89 kgs (roughly 195 lbs) I was in my late thirties. My ultimate goal would be to fully rehabilitate my back, something which a few of the people I’ve consulted (definitely not my doctors) say is in the realm of possibility. Since swimming does an excellent job building muscle and provides good rehabilitation it became obvious doing a lot would speed things along, and if I’m doing a lot of swimming anyway...

So here I find myself in the midst of revamping all my strokes. I don’t have a problem with this; in fact I find it rather enjoyable, a delightful bonus my swimming technique can be improved while carrying out rehab. My chiropractor once asked me if I didn’t find Bikram’s yoga repetitive and boring after a while and I could honestly reply the thought never occurred to me. So long as I haven’t mastered all twenty six positions (and I’m not close to mastering even one) I’ll always have something to work and concentrate on. The same goes for swimming. Every lap swum I’m thinking about where my hands are entering the water, my elbows, my breathing, or any one of the other myriad points where I’m technically weak. I’ve always had a good feel for water so now knowing each stroke’s deficiencies I expect to make steady progress correcting them. There’s little doubt in my mind I’ll eventually get close to achieving the current technical ideal for all four strokes, certainly close enough for my purposes. I’ve also written about some of the criteria I use for evaluating this season’s times (for example my November 18, 2006 post ‘Feeling Good But Unfortunately Not Fast’). I might not place great store on my initial times, but certainly this first season I’m aiming for subsequent swims which indicate further improvement potential (i.e. taking significant chunks of time off the next swim). So just what are my swimming goals? Well as a child I was competitive with individuals who later became world class swimmers and Olympic medalists when I was at a considerable disadvantage in physical development. I’d like to finally put to rest the question of what my true potential was. If you haven’t already read my November 12, 2006 post ‘Talent, God’s Gift’ it’s one of my favourites and I encourage you to read it. Whatever happens happens. I’ll give my very best for possibly two more years and then withdraw from competitive swimming regardless of the results. I might continue training with Hyack Masters for my general fitness but I won’t race anymore. Of course there still exists the distinct possibility I'll withdraw from serious swimming in a month or so anyways. It’ll depend on how I can handle tax season and swimming at the same time and I have real doubts it is possible. But that’s the future. For the upcoming UBC meet I’m planning to enter the 200 back, 100 fly, and the 50 free. Not keen at all about doing the 50 free, but I added it to my selected events when meet scheduling prevented me from entering the 100 free or its planned alternate, the 200 free. I’m a little apprehensive about my pacing in the 200 back and how I’ll handle the seven turns, but that’s why we race isn’t it? So we can find out.