20 Thoughts You Have While Swimming a 20,000

2016 Big East Swimming and Diving Championship on Feb. 27, 2016 at Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, New York.

Photo Courtesy: Villanova Athletics Media Relations

By Caitlin Daday, Swimming World College Intern

Yes, you read that correctly–a 20,000. Fondly referred to as “800 laps of aquatic enjoyment,” the 20,000 race is an annual tradition at Villanova each October. The aerobic benefits are fantastic, but no matter how many times you do it, 20,000 yards is still a lot. It is four hours of non-stop swimming starting at 5 a.m. Even for those who do long swims often, four hours is a long time to go back and forth, staring at a black line without any social interaction.

Since everyone I know asks what I think about while I swim for that long, here are 20 thoughts that you are almost guaranteed to have while swimming a 20,000, or any other swim that is outrageously long:

This isn’t so bad.
Only 19,000 more to go!!
How did I get myself into this?
What part of this is enjoyable?
*random mashup of songs that were playing before we started*
I guess I should probably start picking it up now.
Alright this is a good pace, if I can hold it for three more hours.
I’ve got this….maybe.
Where are my calories??
HALFWAY!! ONLY TWO MORE HOURS!

Photo Courtesy: Erin Himes
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…
Now I’m feeling it.
I may or may not throw up right now.
I cannot wait for my nap.
Last hour, almost there.
I’m not sure how my body is still moving but it is.
This Cola makes me feel like a superhero.
So close to freedom.
Literally just spinning my arms right now.
Am I still alive?

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Raymond Marti Coombs

9 years ago

1. Was the plane really going to crash in the middle of the Atlantic?
2. I must be avoiding something critical, like taxes.
3. When exactly does the swimmers high kick in?
4. I think I left the stove burner on.
5. Did I set the DVR to blacklist?
6. I really should rotate my tires.
7. From coach…..got to replace the nitrogen in my tires, it’s way past due
8. I’m done before midnight right?
9. Could I please have some fins?
10. My speedo shouldn’t be doing that .