Learning to dive
This weekend, I finally learned how to dive with goggles. I had entered a swim meet at Harvard, figuring that this would give me an incentive to learn how to dive. However, we went on vacation for the 10 days prior to the meet, limiting my opportunity. I practiced some on Friday, during warm-up, with variable success. By Sunday, however, I was able to dive off the starting block wearing goggles without them filling up with water.
I used to compete in swimming when I was in high school (and grade school, for that matter), but I used to swim without goggles. At that point, my vision wasn't horrible, and I was comfortable in the water. Now, however, I really need to wear my contacts. I tried to enter a meet about 10 years ago. During that meet, I started in the water once. This put me way behind all of the other swimmers, and was less than satisfactory. So I tried to swim blind. This also failed, as I felt like I was blind and therefore went really slowly. That was my last attempt at swimming in a competition (well, other than open water swims, which are very different).
You may wonder how I did. Well, I did okay. Not great, but I have never been the fastest one in my age group. I may have some hope if I keep swimming, although even the 60-64 age group is REALLY FAST. My two best finishes were 5th in the 200 breaststroke and 8th in the 200 backstroke. I may try competing again, though, as it wasn't totally awful.
I used to compete in swimming when I was in high school (and grade school, for that matter), but I used to swim without goggles. At that point, my vision wasn't horrible, and I was comfortable in the water. Now, however, I really need to wear my contacts. I tried to enter a meet about 10 years ago. During that meet, I started in the water once. This put me way behind all of the other swimmers, and was less than satisfactory. So I tried to swim blind. This also failed, as I felt like I was blind and therefore went really slowly. That was my last attempt at swimming in a competition (well, other than open water swims, which are very different).
You may wonder how I did. Well, I did okay. Not great, but I have never been the fastest one in my age group. I may have some hope if I keep swimming, although even the 60-64 age group is REALLY FAST. My two best finishes were 5th in the 200 breaststroke and 8th in the 200 backstroke. I may try competing again, though, as it wasn't totally awful.