I wrote about retiring and mentioned that my schedule will be open enough to get in a lot of swims without worrying about scheduling conflicts. A commenter wrote to tell me I would not go to the Olympics. Having 69 years of life experience and a healthy dose of higher education I kind of figured that out on my own. But here's a little secret: Most masters swimmers don't show up for daily practice because their goals include getting a gold medal at the Olympics. They do it for social connection. For health benefits. To enjoy healthy competition. To maintain optimum body weight. To maintain muscle mass as they age. To maintain a healthy blood pressure. To stave off cardiac events. To put off hip and knee replacements. Because pushing off the wall in a great streamline is the closest most people will ever come to flying without an airplane. To continue wearing the pants bought in college. Because they are 35% less likely to die of all causes compared with the general population in the same age demographic. Because they get to hang around the pool in a swim suit. Because the people they swim with are in better shape, are happier and more attractive than the general population. Because it's fun not to be at work first thing in the morning. And because swimming helps one sleep better. Add that all together and I think swimming every morning is a better deal than winning once at one Olympic Games.
Most older men who take up golf in retirement die within 18 months. And in those 18 months they have to spend a lot of time with other retired men in bad outfits. That sounds like a really sucky bargain to me. Exercise? In an electric cart? In Major League baseball games the average three hour game has ONLY 8.5 minutes of actual play. And that's an "athletic" pursuit? Amazing with the public will buy...
If you go to a one hour swim practice I'm pretty sure you'll get 58+ minutes of active, aerobic and some anaerobic exercise. A tremendous bargain compared to just about anything else you can do.
Or you could just play pickle ball and keep an orthopedic surgeon on retainer. Just saying.
Kids who swim make better grades. Have more discipline and don't mess up as much as non-swimming kids. Among college athletes they have higher academic achievement.
B. Already water safe at 2.5.
Prince Rainier Memorial Pool in Monte Carlo. A nice pool in which to do laps.
Tyler is a masters swimmer at Longhorn Aquatics. UT.
Young B. At workout. Still swims now at 29. Still in great shape.
Early habits pay off.
Rip Esselstyn. He recently set a world record in the 200-meter backstroke for the 55-59 age group in 2019 at age 56. Yeah. He swims on my masters team. He's 62 now. Still looks the same.
The WHAC USMS swimming pool. Clean water, fast swimming.
UT Swim Center. USMS Nationals
B. Post workout. Better appetite.
Shawn Jordan. Gold medal winner at both the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.
Yeah. He swims with my masters team.
I might never go to the Olympics.
I get my rewards every morning at 8.
And for the rest of the day...
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