Those of us who swim have a love-hate relationship with the sport at the time. We laugh heartily whenever we hear a professional say swimming is soothing, or when people say they cannot wait to swim recreationally in the summer. How can you even have fun in the pool without thinking of the pain you go through everyday, while being screamed at by coaches who could not ever seemingly understand how we are feeling? Here are some common thoughts a swimmer has while in the pool or on the pool-deck.

1. "If I just look like I'm stretching, the coach won't make me get in."

Disclaimer: The coach always banters at you to get in.

2. "Please God do not let the pool be too freezing."

3. " Why is the warm up harder than the main set?"

4. *Notices the try hard who goes hard during the warm up and is 'mysteriously tired' during the main set."

5. "This pool is 50 percent chlorine, 50 percent sweat, and 50 percent urine."

6. "A stroke set?! Freestyle is a stroke, right?"

7. "No, coach, I will not be swimming butterfly."

8. "Man, I hate butterfly, I should have done a land sport."

9. "Just kidding! Swim is life, and I could never give up on my swim bod."

10. "Coaches just don't understand how hard it is."

11. "I'd like to see you dive in the pool and do this warm-up."

12. "Hey coach, you forgot to cite the devil for making today's workout."

13. "Why are there lifeguards here, everyone here can obviously swim."

14. "I cannot wait to eat after this."

15. " Oh ew, the thought of all the disgusting things (and people) that have been in this water."

16. "I need new goggles that don't fill after every flipturn."

17. "Yes! Flips and dive workout."

18. "Other kids my age are sleeping. I wish I was them."

19. "Why has the team not invested in underwater speakers yet?"

20. "Cool down 200 free easy? More like real slow 100 free."

21. "Great, now it's time to fight for a shower."

22. "This sucks, I am never coming back."

23. [Shares pains with teammates and remembers that this family is why you will never leave the sport.]

There is no way I could cover every unique thought that we go through. Even though we constantly stress ourselves and ponder quitting at times, we have grown a psychological attachment to the pool scene and cannot leave it now. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and we have to suffer some to fully enjoy this beautiful sport.