Info
 ►Staff
 ►Contact Us
 ►Feedback

Sign Our
Guestbook

Swimming 

   by Taylor Ward 

    Practice. Every sport has it. Most have it in the afternoon, after a long day of school or maybe from 7 a.m. through the duration of first period. But swim practice takes place at a much different time.

    For most people, sleeping in is waking up at noon or one. But for most swimmers, to be able to sleep until seven is a miracle. I, for one, sleep in until 8 or 9 at the latest before waking up on my own. Most swimmers can't sleep very late -- a result of waking up for practice at 5:00 a.m. every morning of the week.

    When a lot of people think of swimming, or at least what I've heard people tell me, they think of swimming up and down the pool and it being a girls' sport. Wrong! Swimming up and down the pool is a deluded way to explain what swimmers do. A typical practice might dish out 2,000-4,000 yards, the equivalent of about two to four football fields-per hour and a half. Also, out of a vast number of swimmers, about half are guys.

    Swimming isn't all that happens at practice, either. During the summer, swimmers do drylands, which is running and crosstraining, and coaches are about to implement palates, a form of stretching and strength training, into the workouts.   

    Coaches are one of the most important aspects in the swimmer's career. They teach swimmers technique and how to perform one's stroke. They also develop relationships with the athletes. Seeing them seven times a week will allow a swimmer to get to know them pretty well.

    I have made lasting friendships because of swimming, met my best friends (with the exception of J.F. and J.W.), and I believe I have become a better person because of it (long story). I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.

    Swimming is one of the best things that ever happened to me.