There are some things that do not change. The early morning workouts, the goggles, the cold water, and the sense of accomplishment after a hard swim. What does change? Age, waist size, and loss of muscle!
After a 10 year hiatus, at age 31, I am back in the water to prove to myself that I can pick up where I left off after I stopped swimming in college. In high school my team mates called me a beast, and a robot. I was programmed to swim hard and fast, because I had no other setting. I had some natural talent but mostly I had to work hard for the goals that I wanted to accomplish. Back in August I had another goal. I competed in my first Master's swim meet since I was 19, at the Keystone State Games. My mom was the one that encouraged me to compete at Keystone Games, which is a meet I have always participated in since I was 10. As luck would have it, my wife's family had a pool that I could train in and having a job at D&J Sports allowed me the time in the morning before work to swim. Well, I realized a couple things. One, I needed a bigger suit. Two, it was harder to wake up early for practice, and three, my lung capacity was severely lacking. When there are multiple road blocks in front of you, you reach deep down and in the words of Dory, "Keep on Swimming." "Pain is weakness leaving the body," is what my former high school coach Gwen Whilden would say. These are sayings that I would use to push myself. Every morning was a mental struggle to keep swimming, and I wanted to win.
Stay with me as I continue to get 'Back in the 'speedo' to get in shape and enjoy the sport that I am very passionate about.
'Scotty'
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