Back In The Day

That's awesome! I just took up swimming last fall for the purpose of competing in a triathlon and I'm loving it. I wish I could get a 6:32 on a 500. It's important that we parents take a timeout to exercise and do the things we love...

Get in the pool with the kiddos and have fun!

Wow! That is SO cool! I love watching the US Olympic Swim Trials, too.

Oh wow! I was just telling my family about how I loved swimming and athletics when I was young and pulled out all my swim ribbons to show them. It was great reliving my past endevours. Go Ali!

Go for it Ali! I loved swimming as a kid, just for fun. When we stopped regularly going to the pool, the weight started piling on and never stopped. Now, I try to swim laps when we go but I get so tired easily. because I am soooooo out of shape and very heavy. I still feel like it's the one thing that can get me in shape. if i can only get access to a pool that won't cost an arm and a leg!

Inspiring. It gives me encouragement to try to recapture the spirit I had when I was young. From the outside looking in, I think you push your mind a lot. You are always coming up with new ways to tell your story. I appreciate that. :)

Great pics. I too like to remember those days and I have tried to get back in the pool again. It works for a while but is definately starting up again as my daughter is keen to come and train with me. Hopefully this will ease us back into it. Thanks for sharing.

I too always enjoy watching swimming when it's Olympics season! (Sidenote: A recent Bellarmine grad, Kevlyn Richards is swimming in the trials!)

I swam in middle school competitively. My older sister started swimming in high school, so I think my Mom figured it would be a good activity for me by default! I gave it up in high school to run cross country, but sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I had stuck with it.

I really miss it, and your descriptions of 'the act' of swimming really brough me back. I'd like to pick it up again sometime in the future too!

Ali,
Like you I grew up swimming and loved it. I even coached high school swimming when I taught in Alabama two years ago. I love how it makes me feel and I enjoy watching it on tv as well. I got a short glimpse of the Olympic trials on Tuesday. So exciting! I can't wait for the games to start.
I too need to get back in the water. I just had my first child 6 months ago and I am anxious to get him exposed to the pleasure and joy of swimming. He already loves bath time! However living in Washington is a bit cold right now. Looking forward to July and August weather to arrive.
Thanks for sharing! I still have photos from my swimming days and enjoy looking back and remembering those fun days!

I saw the Decatur in the pic, but already read that you went to bellarmine- that's so cool! I graduated from decatur a few years ahead of you- lol! I knew you were from the Seattle area, but didn't realize you grew up in the same area I did! Small world! I'm trying to think of people I knew that went to bellarmine- (i went to st. Vincents).... Thanks for all your inspiration!

I totally get this...I have used swimming as a way to help me get through depression after my parents died, to process life changes as my youngest entered college, and now at the age of 53 I joined a Masters Program to challenge myself and push myself mentally and physically.

What your post has reminded me....to document it!

I hope you do get back in the pool or into something for you - something that feels good and recharges your batteries on several levels - you deserve that. Honouring your body and mind with physical activity is a beautiful thing.
cheers!
A.

I never used to swim competively, but there definately is something magical about being in the water! I think that's so awesome that you have so photos from when you were younger swimming though! How cool to be able to look back at that point in time!

I loved smelling like chlorine all the time.
I loved writing on my teammates before meets.
I loved how energized I felt after 3-500s as a warm up.
I loved how unselfconscious I was in a swim suit.
I loved breaking a minute in the 100 free.
I loved mentoring the newer swimmers.
I loved being mentored by the more experienced ones.

I loved swimming competitively!
Thanks for the reminder. :)

Swimming was a huge part of my life growing up as we lived at the pool in the summer. First taking swimming lessons starting the year I was 5 and then helping teach the summer I turned 11 and continuing to teach almost every summer through high school and into my 20s. Then I got real full-time jobs so couldn't fit it into my schedule. But at any point when I was unemployed or working later in the day, I was always back at the pool teaching. I also taught quite a few private lessons. I never swam competitively, outside of the July 4th and end of summer meets at our club until I was 13, because I was not a fast swimmer. But I still love the water and welcome any opportunity to spend time in it!