Last Wednesday Spokane Al posted on the solitary nature of his training, and finished up his post with a brief thought on success and failure. I don’t know when it happened, really, but I’ve come to think of those two things as much less black and white than I did when I was younger. In my chosen sport I have the luxury of competing against myself using the number the clock provides as my arbiter. Yet even when I swim more slowly, I may be doing something extraordinarily successful. In fact, I can honestly feel triumphant about just being there, and choose to take anything else as gravy.
But even when we compete against the clock on race day we stand on the blocks at the same time as other people. They may spur us on, they may psyche us out, but they are an essential part of the experience. The gun goes off and a group of people begin to race. We compare ourselves not just to our previous exploits, but we also see a placing when we look to the results. We may never be shooting to win. But it would be rare if we weren’t shooting to be the best we can with what we have on race day.
In 2006 I swam in one meet. I completed 3 events. I could walk when I was done. That was success. Then there were results. And now there are standings. Masters Swimming Ontario publishes a top ten list for times posted in sanctioned meets in each age group and event over a calendar year. Each swimmer’s fastest time counts, so it’s top ten people not top ten swims. So here’s the gravy: I ranked. Ninth in the province in the 100 free. Eighth in the100 breast. For me that’s pretty exciting. Does it change my objectives? My training? Of course not. Did I wonder whether to blog about it? Absolutely.
It is one of my goals to meet the qualifying standards for World Masters Swimming Championships (which is held every two years under the auspices of FINA) in 2008. If I had swum those times at Worlds last year (using a short course to long course conversion factor) I would have been about 15 seconds under the qualifying time for the 100 breaststroke, and would have rounded out the top 50 finishers. I would have been about 9 seconds under the qualifying time for the 100 free – and I would have been among the last 20 finishers.
Would I have been thrilled beyond words with results like that? You’d better believe it!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
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12 comments:
Impressive times! Alas, I completely fail to make the list....
Thanks Warren. From your training exploits I'm willing to bet you'll be putting down some personal bests (which is what really counts) at the Ian Button Memorial meet! Hopefully we'll see each other there (what tri-blogger Bolder calls "celebrity something").
Well said, Wendy. Indeed, even when you are going slowly, you might be achieving greatness. For example, if you can come close to a best time in a race during the middle of the season, when your weekly mileage is way up and your muscles are shredded and worn out, that's quite an accomplishment.
When I was an age group swimmer it was all about beating the guy next to me. It was "psych out or be psyched out". Now I only worry about beating myself and I cheer on the guy (or gal) next to me.
Kudos on your rankings. Apparently, I'm in the top 20 in Canada for long course 50 fly. I just wish I could be in the top 20 for short course 50 free!
Cheers!
Congratulations!
Way to go on the 50 fly Joe! Provincially you're top 10 in the 50 free though, and top five 50 fly! (I hear you on the Canadian rankings. My 100 breast squeaks into the top 30.)
Supportive yet competitive (if you like). I think that pretty much sums up swimming masters.
Brent, thanks!
congrats on your ranking!
Congratulations on some great results. And thank you for including me in your blog.
I agree with you on success and failure. It is not measured by a yes or no, but rather on a sliding scale that is created for calculating the individual success of each of us as individuals.
As the late, great Dr George Sheehan used to say, each of us is an experiment of one.
Bold & Al: Thanks!
Congratulations on making the top ten LIST!
I hear the pride in your post...love the necklace too! (and I odn't wear necklaces- "old" neck and who wants to call attention to THAT?)
> Provincially you're top 10
> in the 50 free though,
> and top five 50 fly!
Where did you find that info?
You can sort the my MSC stats provincially (although Ontario's are a little off) -- the national box is a drop down menu, too.
Fe-Lady: Thanks very much! Different people are comfortable with different kinds of jewellery. And your jewellery should make you feel good -- not self-conscious. (But that said, I'll bet you'd look smashing in a necklace if you chose to wear one.)
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