Life in the lane

...continuing our aquatic theme from last week...

Oliver, 67, grew up in Wisconsin, which is home to more than 15,000 lakes. 

Fun facts about US lakes

Oliver’s state of Wisconsin has the second most US lakes, after Alaska’s mind-boggling three million.

The other Great Lakes huggers – Minnesota and Michigan – are right behind Wisconsin with almost 12,000 and 11,000 lakes respectively. 

The whole region appears to percolate with left-over glacial water.  Perhaps the lakes in these three stated are More Modest Lakes, rather than Great Ones?

Unexpectedly, drought-prone places also made it into the top ten of states with the most lakes:  Texas sports 6700, and California, 3000.

Back to Oliver

Not only did Oliver spend early life in a lake-rich state, but his family lived along one of those 15,000 bodies of water.  He loved his lake so much that when three years old, he crawled into and out of it, launching his swim career.

“My mother was a bit skeptical about this,” he reminisces.  “But my older sister watched me…”

That same year, riding (surfing?) that success, he also won the youngest swimmer contest in his home town.

“I took lessons at a young age, 3 to 5…[later had] swim team training.”

Oliver was definitely into swimming, participating in an AAU summer club program swim club. 

Naturally, when he went to University, he lettered in swimming two of his three years.  “I didn’t swim senior year, wanted to graduate…” he explains.

Additionally, this Water Man somehow managed to find time for football and basketball while a youngster.

But “no ambition” to become an athlete as an adult.  “I was interested in an ag career…”

Swimming temporarily dries up

Eventually, that ag career rotated around sales, and he traveled extensively in this role.  Plus, he got married, they had kids, time was stretched, so “the youngest swimmer” had to put the sport aside for several years.

When he was in his 30s, he found a swim group at one of the pools he occasionally used, “but I was not committed…” 

And until he was about 40, he swam only intermittently, primarily in YMCA and club pools.

“In my early 40s,” Oliver says, “I joined a Masters Swim group composed of men and women.”  But he still couldn’t dedicate himself to annual participation in events.

“By the late 90s,” however, Oliver traveled less and his girls were older. “I’m still with that same Masters group.  Informal [swimming], no on-deck coach.  We swim Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.”

The aquatic bunch totals about 50 regular swimmers.

He describes the gathering: “There are four to six swimmers per lane,” for up to six lanes. 

So, a lot of bodies in the water at the same time.  They swim two miles each outing, and that takes approximately an hour and ten minutes.

A lot bodies…a lot of committed bodies.  Those weekday plunges begin at 5:15A, and the one on Saturday, at 7A. 

For the last five to ten years, Oliver has swum more regularly.  One thing the experience taught him is that “I like to work hard, do a hard workout.  Miss it if I don’t do it.”

Fortunately, from a motivational perspective, “it’s part of my routine now.”

He adds that for 15-20 years, he participated in Masters Swimming competitions, but stopped that ten years ago.  Schedule didn’t permit it.

“Only fastest [swimmers] are now competing,” he notes. “A lot of us are fast, but not keeping name in meets.  Typically, five to six men go to breakfast after morning swims.”

Life in the lane is rewarding

Looking back over the experience, he says that “…It’s very rewarding from competing when young. Good friend base.  Most gratifying aspect is you stay in great condition.”

He adds: “I’m not a land sport guy – loved golf but my back didn’t.”

Swimming is in his blood, so his daughters took up the sport, as well.  Starting in 2015, he volunteered to help coach the high school varsity girls swim team.  “When I began,” he reports, “my daughters were on the team and led the team to eight state championships, the longest streak for any [state] sport team.”

Oliver regards coaching as “giving back” and continues to do it.

In 2018, he added to his responsibilities by taking on a summer club team for ages 5-18.  That’s about 130 kids to teach and motivate and manage during the summer time.

Can’t keep away from the water!

His goal is “to continue to swim the rest of my life”.  But he does admit that he is “fishing more” now, too…

From an equipment perspective, swimming is far more minimal than fishing.  Oliver has a suit and goggles.  Training fins and paddles were helpful when he was learning, but they are no longer necessary.

WIIFY?

What’s in it for you?

Perhaps, like Oliver, you have taken a several-decades hiatus from a sport you enjoyed in your younger days.

How to ease back in?

One of the lessons from Oliver’s story is to ensure your life is ready for an athletic commitment. He only began swimming on a regular basis once his career had simmered down a bit, and his girls were older.

Ask yourself if you have time to devote a few hours a week to relaunching your sporting self.

Perhaps more importantly, does your body agree with your decision?!

Another Oliver lesson is to identify a compatible set of comrades. Even though years had passed between the time he identified the Masters Swim company and the time he regularly participated, Oliver kept in touch with the men and women. I’m guessing at this, but assume this kept him part of the community which, in turn, eventually motivated him to plunge in (!).

Finally, give yourself time. Oliver experimented with coming back to the pool for a decade or so. It can take awhile for your tennis legs or softball reflexes to kick back in. Don’t sweat it (oh, I cannot help myself!) if play feels awkward at first. This will pass.

What are you waiting for? Dive in and have fun!