Lots of folks on this board are pretty experienced competitive swimmers (and you're awesome), but I'm wondering how many of us are in it just for fun/fitness. Is Masters really about competition, or is there room for the fitness swimmer, too?
Of course, I'm looking to get better, improve my stroke and kick and get a little faster. But only because it ups the fitness quotient. I didn't get into swimming to compete, but because my hereditary arthritis started kicking in and I figured it was a safe, effective way to exercise and drop those pounds my doctor's been hounding me about.
Who out there is a non-competitor, how many times a week to you swim, and do you count laps, time, or just do whatever feels good?
I love Anna Lea's stat. Keep in mind that these two "types" of swimmers can be one in the same: A competitor would be swimming for speed and perhaps a challenge of some sort. In order to do that, they need to be fit! The fitness world and competitive world should be better joined.
From my reading of the boards and the types of articles posted here the 75% who don't compete don't talk about their fitness goals or routines much.
Interesting observation. The conclusions I would draw from this? The competitors have a strong desire to: set goals; solicit peer feedback; obtain technical knowledge; try new things; and interact with others. All in the name of becoming a better (in terms of both technique AND speed) swimmer - and to help others to the same.
A paradigm for ANY swimmer to consider, but most specifically a fitness swimmer: a race (meet or ow swim) should never be about the time or place you finish... its an opportunity to learn about yourself. Its a barometer against which you can measure progress towards a goal. That goal that may not always be about numbers on a stopwatch - but more often things like breathing patterns, body position, kick strength/cadence, stroke counts, turn quickness, high elbows, etc.
I love Anna Lea's stat. Keep in mind that these two "types" of swimmers can be one in the same: A competitor would be swimming for speed and perhaps a challenge of some sort. In order to do that, they need to be fit! The fitness world and competitive world should be better joined.
From my reading of the boards and the types of articles posted here the 75% who don't compete don't talk about their fitness goals or routines much.
Interesting observation. The conclusions I would draw from this? The competitors have a strong desire to: set goals; solicit peer feedback; obtain technical knowledge; try new things; and interact with others. All in the name of becoming a better (in terms of both technique AND speed) swimmer - and to help others to the same.
A paradigm for ANY swimmer to consider, but most specifically a fitness swimmer: a race (meet or ow swim) should never be about the time or place you finish... its an opportunity to learn about yourself. Its a barometer against which you can measure progress towards a goal. That goal that may not always be about numbers on a stopwatch - but more often things like breathing patterns, body position, kick strength/cadence, stroke counts, turn quickness, high elbows, etc.
