Our dear neighbor, Karen Bland, might still be fresh in the minds of our readers. She has left a lasting impression as a remarkable competitive swimmer, adorned with countless medals from her active participation in various U.S. Master Swimming events. Once again, we had the pleasure of reconnecting with Karen to bring you an exciting update on her swimming journey, exclusively for our Stroll readers. It's truly awe-inspiring to witness the unwavering passion, unwavering dedication, unwavering self-discipline, and unwavering focus exhibited by this 63-year-old athlete. These qualities are ones many of us can only dream of achieving in our lifetime, let alone at an age where most would consider slowing down!

Stroll definitely had some questions for this inspiring athlete:

I have had a long swimming career. I swam for two years in college and then gave it up to focus on my grades and graduate. I picked swimming back up when I was 40 because I started doing triathlons. I focused more on swimming when I was 50 (in 2010), which is when I started my competitive swimming.  

I concentrate on swimming, lifting weights, and doing yoga. I have always been very regimented about my workout schedule. I follow a plan and I like to be prepared. I get up at 5 a.m. and practice begins at 6 a.m. 

Five days a week all year long at the Kingsport Aquatic Center on the Masters Swim Team. Even on vacations, I find pools to swim in and try to find Masters Swim Teams to work out with.

I started training with the Masters Swim Team around 2017 with a really good coach, so my times got better. Having someone point things out is really helpful with technique. 

I think the competition keeps me working hard in practice. I'm 63 now, and when I look back on some of my times when I started, I'm swimming faster now than I was in my 50s. That's a strong motivator, to keep working hard, and to keep moving! Always have someone in your lane pushing you, either you're leading and trying not to let the person behind catch you, or you're trying to catch the person in your lane, swimming with other people helps motivate me!

In the Senior Games, which is for ages 50 and over, the longest race is the 500-meter. That's all I've been doing and while I enjoy the 500 meters, I miss racing in the 1000-meter. I enjoyed a mile that I did recently, although it is a lot harder than anything I've done. I used to be a sprinter in college, but I have found that I have evolved into a strong distance swimmer now. 

Trying to get enough protein in my diet per meal! I also have been retired for the past three years and having more rest has helped me swim better, but I do wish there was a noontime practice!

At the Nationals in 2022 in Richmond, Virginia, I was able to take a picture with the actor Cooper Thornton, who is from Nashville, Tennessee. 

Katie Ledecky since she is so amazing right now. 

Until I can't! At the last Nationals in 2022 I took part in, there was a 100-year-old man who was moving swiftly through his lane, and I thought, “Boy, I hope I can move like that when I'm 100!”

My most recent happy experience was swimming the mile. At Senior Nationals in May 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, I swam a really, really, amazing for me, 200-meter butterfly time. I won, which made me excited, and I shaved 14 seconds off my previous personal best! I finished the race in 3 minutes, which made me feel fantastic with the knowledge I am improving at my age.  

Swimming is rather boring to watch, but when we have our home meets, he has volunteered to be a lane timer. The meets are spread out and a competition can last 12 hours! Depending on where the meets are, sometimes my husband and I will add extra time into the schedule to make vacation plans and explore the local sites if that interests us. The summer meet in 2023 is going to be in Sarasota, Florida, so we shall see. 

I like seeing what some of the other families are doing, especially the new families. It’s a joy to learn about people in my actual neighborhood. When you meet them walking, you really don't get to know much about them, so the magazine is great!