Swimming is the greatest sport there is. I know that may sound biased because I am a swimmer, but it really is. Getting a full body workout, being with friends, and finally hitting the goals that were set at the beginning of the year are many things that are great about swimming.
Swimming is much different from other sports like football, baseball, or basketball in that swimming is a year round sport with only a month or so off. Football and other sports like it just go on for a couple months and then that’s it. I know that they do off-season workouts but they’re not constantly doing it all the time.
But swimming does come with its challenges. Here are five ways that show exactly what us swimmers do not like about swimming.
1. Early Morning Workouts
Who wants to get up at 4:45 to go jump in a cold pool? Not me. Morning workouts are important, but we swimmers do not enjoy them all the time.
2. Being Tired
All of that swimming will do a number on your system. After a long two-hour practice, you feel like you just want to crash on the nearest couch and just fall asleep.
3. Leg Day
The worst day ever. Your legs feel like jelly and you just want to cut them off. Though you know that it is to help get stronger, you still hate it.
4. What Social Life?
Because of the commitment that swimming is, that doesn’t leave you much time to go do anything with your other friends. That new movie out? See it later. Going bowling? Can’t, have practice tomorrow morning.
Because of this, your teammates become your best friends and you all do more stuff together than you do with others.
5. Balancing School and Training
Because we swimmers put so much time in the pool, some things tend to fall to the wayside. When it comes to school however, we have to balance both sides. Whether it’s finding study time, doing homework, or making sure everything gets done, it’s a struggle to balance both worlds.
Swimming is a very rewarding sport but it is not without its challenges. In the end, I would not change a thing about my life, and I’m sure lots of other swimmers would agree with me.
