Photo Courtesy: Stephanie Krell/SCAD Athletics
By Kelly Lennon, Swimming World College Intern
Originally posted May 29, 2015
We’ve all been there. Whether you’re a distance swimmer or just unfortunate enough to be one of those kids that gets thrown into every event at every meet, you’ve likely swam the mile at some point in your career. Sixty-six laps and 15+ minutes leaves you a lot of time to think, and if you’re anything like me, your train of thought probably goes something like this…
- Oooooookay here we go, 66 laps, I can do it, no big deal, just a quick mile.
- Don’t take it out too fast!!!
- No, seriously slow down, you will die.
- Why is everyone else going so fast….
- We literally just started
- Is this the mile or the 50 what are you people DOING.
- Should I pick it up too?
- Is that a risk I’m willing to take?
- No, no, definitely not.
- But I don’t want to get lapped…
- EVERYONE SLOW DOWN.
- I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
- We’re allll in thisss togetherrrr once we know that we are we’re all STARS…
- Focus.
- But I’m probably fine…right?
- No, I’m definitely fine they’ll all crash and I’ll be great.
- I’M FINE.
- I wonder what everyone else is thinking about.
- Are they as tired as I am already?
- Based on the way they started out sprinting I would assume so.
- Yet everyone is still ahead of me…
- They’ll get tired eventually, right?
- OK, focus on something else.
- This is YOUR race.
- Sing a song!
- CAUSE I GOT A BLANK SPACE BABY
- AND I’LL WRITE YOUR NAME
- And I’m bored again.
- Wow, I’m also exhausted.
- Don’t. Think. About. It.
- Aaaaaaand I’m thinking about it.
- This is painful.
- HALFWAY THERE
- Ohhhh living on a prayer take my hand and we’ll make it I swear..
- Except we really might not make it
- I literally just have to do what I just did one more time.
- I could probably do that
- Without dying…right?
- This isn’t even that bad.
- I’m totally cruising.
- Practically on autopilot.
- I’m also basically already done.
- Except I’m in A LOT OF PAIN.
- I don’t actually think I’ve ever felt pain like this before.
- The last time definitely wasn’t this painful.
- Maybe it was and I just blacked out.
- I could always stop.
- Or do an open turn and get some oxygen.
- Is it worse for me to finish and have a bad time or not finish at all?
- Which is coach more likely to yell at me for…
- If I stay in, I might drown.
- If I get out…
- Yeah, I’m definitely gonna stay in.
- What’s that quote? When you want to stop remember why you started?
- Well I only really started because my coach made me, but still!
- Just start kicking and kick your way to the finish.
- OK, your legs AREN’T working today.
- Why are you shaking the counter?
- If I could go faster don’t you think I would go faster????
- I’m not TRYING to go slow, it’s just HAPPENING.
- Almost there, finish strong.
- Think about all the food you’re going to eat after this.
- Literally, so much food.
- And oxygen.
- That wasn’t even that bad I could probably do it again. Why is everyone complaining?
- THOSE RED BLOCKS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
If you’re counting for yourself, there’s a whole different set of thoughts.
I was thinking the same thing….. What lap am I on?? Was that 24 or 26 lol
And do you revert to the lowest lap count you think you may have done? Did I really do a 1650? Maybe just a 1600 (wow! I beat my time!) or 1700 (crap, didn’t feel that fatigued…)
Awesome! I usually have a good song in my mind.
This is freaking hilarious.. and so true
So true. Also dam I’m hungry
Open water…. Wait was that a shark? Oh, in a lake! Alligator? ?
When having to split a lane…. ‘Why ate they taking their half from the middle?’
Great article Kelly
Thank you!
Welcome to Swimming World Kelly. Nice Job!
thank you!! happy to be here 🙂
Yes, number 4
That’s SO funny. That’s what I thought when I was doing cross country…so much time! Swimmers go thru the same stuff I guess. Good article
Anneliesse Bruns it’s more like 1-66 just keep swimming just keep swimming, oh my body is numb, well that just means no more pain. And I can go faster. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPETY NOPE NOPE definetly can’t. Them again maybe a little bit at a time, alright here we go feeling good, here it is last lap, hey that’s a person I’m passing cool. Done finally done give me burger now please!
I am cracking up – that is so gonna be me!!!!
So funny….so true!
This is great! !! I always wondered! !
This is so true!
Do you think anyone would notice if I skipped 2 laps?
Yep, every single one and then some, each and every time I swam it, lol.
So true! But I love the mile.
As a distance swimmer I never allowed myself to think about pain. I went out a little slow until the midpoint, then looked for the nearest swimmer to pass. After passing, I picked the next swimmer and then the next. Focus on pain and you’re done.
Something I’ve learned the hard way!!
Me too!
Being a little bit older, this happens to me (more than often) around lap 10 after a little coughing:
*Why do I still keep forgetting to fix my dentures? *
1650…I think all that during the 200 breast!
100% accurate!
If you drove like you swim, you’d be taking a field sobriety test right now.
I like number 58…
Always wondered what you thought about!
58 & 59 r what I think in like every distance event!
🙂
Lmao, this was beyond accurate. And also applied for my 500
So funny! And that only accounts for 1 thought per lap!! I bet there’s more where that comes from!! LOL
Listening to IRON Butterfly’s Inna Godda de Vita,….
Dee Rossman Brodt-Macnider i remember us having a conversation about this very topic.
Michele Heller…
I’m sure this is Annie and Claire.
Julie Payne Sparks…this will be us on Sunday!! Lol
Bryan Rossmanith did you see this?!
Kat Gerstmar Alex Hendrick Maddy Wigg Ryan Gifford Jason Hicks
Karen Chu Miriam Benjamin
Lol Bernadette Chiavaro Jaeger – you should show this to Connor!
Is this real life Wendy Bartlett?
Thea Schuster 1500 ?
Hahahahah, du får det ikke mer korrekt enn det altså…. ??????
Dan Ax recognize this guy?
Karli
Carolyn Bonfield Mckenna Newsum Schoenberg
Chris Cook
Shelby Fruge death by mile lol
Connor Harrigan
Rachel Suhs you know
Only one: get this damn thing over with
Elyse
Ryan Miller
Kevin Nguyen
Francisco Salinas