Competition

RE: Competition

Former Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:16:12 GMT

I'm not fast, but I'm not offering apologizes if I beat you. My intentions are to flip-flop successes when I actually see the results. I use this 'parlay' mindset in many areas of life.

RE: Competition

ande — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:53:23 GMT

Some like to win, others hate to lose. Eddie says those who Hate to Lose tend to swim faster. I swim to race well & try to better my best. I'd rather just race myself wearing blinders. There have been times when I swam faster because I had a good swimmer beside me, it's a close race & I got lost in the moment. It's better to be psyched and fierce than too present, not so pyched, getting whupped and thinking OW this really hurts

RE: Competition

Celestial — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:47:31 GMT

But...but...what if you define success as "destroying your competition?" Nothing beats a good sandbag, followed by destroying a heat of 70-year-olds!:bolt: Yes, I LOVE love LOVE winning my heat!! A best time on top of it all is awesome!

RE: Competition

__steve__ — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:47:10 GMT

But...but...what if you define success as "destroying your competition?" Nothing beats a good sandbag, followed by destroying a heat of 70-year-olds!:bolt: =========================================================================== 1 __steve__ M43 UNAT NT 2:44.63 39.12 1:22.02(42.90) 2:05.84(43.82) 2:44.63(38.79) 2 M80 BMST 4:51.00 4:54.67 59.41 2:17.74(1:18.33) 3:37.34(1:19.60) 4:54.67(1:17.33) 3 M62 BMST 3:50.00 4:00.98 52.64 1:54.26(1:01.62) 2:58.86(1:04.60) 4:00.98(1:02.12) 4 M56 UNAT 3:45.00 3:32.27 46.46 1:41.06(54.60) 2:37.08(56.02) 3:32.27(55.19) 5 M67 GSMS 3:50.00 3:47.00 51.23 1:49.84(58.61) 2:50.31(1:00.47) 3:47.00(56.69) 6 F79 LCM 4:17.04 4:36.61 58.17 2:08.85(1:10.68) 3:22.28(1:13.43) 4:36.61(1:14.33) 7 M87 LCM 6:00.00 6:33.65 1:35.55 3:15.73(1:40.18) 4:58.37(1:42.64) 6:33.65(1:35.28)

RE: Competition

Former Member — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:34:58 GMT

I would rather come in last place and get a personal best time then come in first place and get a lousy time. Unless it is at nationals, then I would settle for 1st place with a lousy time. Otherwise, I agree with you.

RE: Competition

Swimosaur — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:02:43 GMT

It's hard to be motivated by "destroy the competition", since really tight races are rather rare in masters swimming. In my experience, in most heats, the faster folks are clearly faster, and the slower folks are clearly slower. You'd better be racing against yourself, because there are no other races in the pool! That said, it's fun when something like this happens. 200 ***: 4 Swimosaur M54 GKMS 38.34 1:21.00(42.66) 2:03.33(42.33) 2:45.65(42.32) 5 Guy in the Next Lane M55 UNAT 37.16 1:21.36(44.20) 2:04.71(43.35) 2:45.83(41.12) That was a fun race. I can honestly say I like races, even when I lose. I do like to race. But racing is the icing on the cake; it's not the main motivation. The main motivations are staying healthy and having fun. Even getting personal bests, as great as it is, is third on the list. Stay healthy, have fun, swim faster! In that order!

RE: Competition

rxleakem — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:31:29 GMT

I compete to measure my own progress, such that it is. Between events is just 'social hour' (unless I'm counting a 500). :cheerleader:

RE: Competition

That Guy — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:27:12 GMT

if the only competition is That Guy, then I guess my answer would have to be "Destroy the Competition". :bolt: Yeah! You show him who's boss! :cheerleader:

RE: Competition

Elaine Krugman — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:53:44 GMT

Unless it is at nationals, then I would settle for 1st place with a lousy time. Otherwise, I agree with you. I don't think I will ever be in that position unless I eventually outlive my competition! :blush: But, you do have a good point; a gold medal at Nationals would be awesome!

RE: Competition

jaadams1 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:31:17 GMT

I voted for "Destroy the Competition", mainly because of the answers to choose from that one sounded AWESOME. Now as for reality, if the only competition is That Guy, then I guess my answer would have to be "Destroy the Competition". :bolt:

RE: Competition

Chris Stevenson — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:28:21 GMT

But...but...what if you define success as "destroying your competition?" Nothing beats a good sandbag, followed by destroying a heat of 70-year-olds!:bolt:

RE: Competition

Elaine Krugman — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:25:43 GMT

The only thing I want to destroy is my previous best time, so the clock is my only competition. I would rather come in last place and get a personal best time then come in first place and get a lousy time. :agree:

RE: Competition

__steve__ — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:17:01 GMT

Competitive spirit is prevalent with every heat I'm in or witness. Doesn't matter if I'm DFL or 1st because only 3 people were in my age group, it's the beauty of the race experience that keeps me pushing. If I was in it just for exercise I might as well stay home lap swimming.

RE: Competition

Celestial — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:41:37 GMT

In my own mind, I tell myself to destroy the competition - but that would get very depressing if that was all I was looking to do. I use the competition to help me go faster times! It's taken me a long to time to "forget" the times of my youth & appreciate the improvements I'm making now & I don't need to get discouraged by comparing myself unfavorably to others. One of the best things about masters is our ability to truly enjoy the successes of our competition - even if we have fierce rivalries! Just my 2c

RE: Competition

Allen Stark — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:22:29 GMT

Who says destroy the competition? Conan the Barbarian "What is best in life,to crush your enemies,to see them driven before you,to hear the lamentations of their women." Are we barbarians? I want to win,but my competition are all good guys.If they beat me I learn from it.If I exceed my goal and still don't win it's good.I guess I try to build on my success,but really, I use my experience to set goals for my next meet. That's the thing about Masters,there is always a next meet.

RE: Competition

orca1946 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 02:20:56 GMT

At 66 --- try to stay even. If by some fluke ----- get faster !!

RE: Competition

TRYM_Swimmer — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 01:38:42 GMT

When you're stuck between a rock (Bob Strand) and a hard place (Allen Stark) you look for your own little successes, and maybe creep a little closer year by year. Maybe when we're all over 100.....