Is It Normal?

It was the end of the day on day 1 of the New England Masters Swimming Championships. I like to socialize, and had been talking a little with the woman in front of me throughout the day. It appeared she was at the meet alone and I was trying to include her in our group, but she seemed content with her own company and was pretty quiet.

After her last swim I asked “So was it a fast swim?” and she replied “No. 10 seconds slower than it should be.” Then she started opening up about how she had started training about 4 months ago, after being 10 years or so out of the water. She was disappointed with her times.

I told her my story of my swimming comeback. I had spent 20 years away from serious swimming. 5 years ago I decided to get in shape, that led to me to start Masters Swimming again. My first meet’s times were very disappointing. In fact, I told her, my meet times then were slower than my practice times today. I then told her it took me a year and a half to get back where I felt comfortable competing.

The woman’s face lit up and she told me she had been feeling something was wrong with her. She was so happy to know that what she was going through was normal. Then she packed up her bags with a smile on her face and left the meet.

What is Normal?

Funny thing is, I thought I’d be writing this blog post about my last 6 months of training, how I am in the last year in my age group and have been training hard to be in optimal shape as I move up to the next age group next year… something along those lines. 

Since the meet, I’ve thought a lot about my conversation with this woman. I wonder how many people are doubting themselves, playing head games about whether they are normal?

What is normal? I don’t really know. What I do know is that it took me a couple of years to feel comfortable competing again in pool races. As a kid I was racing in meets once a week, practicing off the blocks regularly and training every day. It makes sense that after a 20 year break that it would take a while to get my body used to that again. I’m happy with the way I feel, with the shape I’m in, and even happy with my times now.

I believe it’s important to be patient, listen to our bodies, and do what feels right to you.

It may not feel normal. But what really is “normal”?