Even our friend Aquageek gets a mention!
www.wsj.com/.../in-u-s-masters-swimming-training-is-more-important-than-the-race-1438622826
I think the article is fine as far as it goes, but it would be nice if they at least mentioned that competition IS a big facet of masters swimming for lots of us. Sure lots of USMS members do not compete, but how many other adult sports can boast of having an annual national championship event where ~2,000 athletes compete?
Therein, I think, lies the rub. I don't think you can compare the two sports the way you are doing. Triathlons were originally invented as a competitive sport. The only reason, in my mind, to do a triathlon is to compete. Nobody just goes out and does a "recreational" triathlon on their lunch hour.
I guess I differentiate "competing" from "participating" by the objectives of the person. A "competitor" has aspirations to finish in a certain position relative to his or her peers. A "participant" is someone who gets satisfaction just being part of the event, time and finish place be damned. Triathlon attracts plenty of both. For the participant-minded folks, who's primary objective in a triathlon is just to finish, a ladder system of distances exists, from Sprint, to Olympic, to Half Ironman, to full Ironman, that keeps "just finishing" a viable goal for years.
Swim meets just don't seem to appeal to as many "participant" minded people as triathlons. I guess its partially because there are no "bragging rights" to be had just by being a participant. Tell a non-athlete you finished a triathlon, and you'll gain instant respect. Tell that same person you swam in a swim meet, and they'll need more information to decide whether or not you're participation is worthy of admiration. "Did you win? How fast are you compared to Michael Phelps? Do you think you could beat my 11 year old niece who swims year round for the local club team? She's really good, my sister says!"
Therein, I think, lies the rub. I don't think you can compare the two sports the way you are doing. Triathlons were originally invented as a competitive sport. The only reason, in my mind, to do a triathlon is to compete. Nobody just goes out and does a "recreational" triathlon on their lunch hour.
I guess I differentiate "competing" from "participating" by the objectives of the person. A "competitor" has aspirations to finish in a certain position relative to his or her peers. A "participant" is someone who gets satisfaction just being part of the event, time and finish place be damned. Triathlon attracts plenty of both. For the participant-minded folks, who's primary objective in a triathlon is just to finish, a ladder system of distances exists, from Sprint, to Olympic, to Half Ironman, to full Ironman, that keeps "just finishing" a viable goal for years.
Swim meets just don't seem to appeal to as many "participant" minded people as triathlons. I guess its partially because there are no "bragging rights" to be had just by being a participant. Tell a non-athlete you finished a triathlon, and you'll gain instant respect. Tell that same person you swam in a swim meet, and they'll need more information to decide whether or not you're participation is worthy of admiration. "Did you win? How fast are you compared to Michael Phelps? Do you think you could beat my 11 year old niece who swims year round for the local club team? She's really good, my sister says!"
