I like the article in swim Magazine about Rita Egan and Sylvia powell. These women are not your typical slim young swimmers that are elite swimmers but like the rest of us ordinary. Actually, given my previous background in swimming I'm also won of these average jills. As a youth I swam the 100 meter *** at 1:30 and as a 46 at 1:43.31. So, many of us do it for enjoyment and some exercise knowing that we will never be at the top of the pack. I think we should have more of these stories?. And Ion believe me you are not that bad. You did a 2:31 200 meter freestyle. I recently swam a 3:15. So don't feel bad and their is alot more competition in the men than in the women in 45 to 49. Not saying that their are not good swimmers in the women.
The vast majority of people who get up and got to a pool to swim are not associated with USMS, I'd like to see more of them come on board. The ones I've spoken with have no interest in competing, but they would most likely benefit from coaching and the "social" side of what USMS has to offer.
Maybe this involvement lead to trying meet sometime or possibly they volunteer to help run our meets, maybe they become more committed to fitness, weight lose, overcoming Parkinsons, or just making friends. If we are going to attract and keep these folks then we need to include role models for them and that isn't from articles about so called "elite" masters swimmers.
Those of us who fall into this "elite" category (defined by records, top 10, participation at meets, pushing for NQTs :D , etc), most likely are driven much more by internal motivation than relying on Swim magazine (no offense Phil & Bill).
It saddens me to think that anyone would seek to elevate their own self esteem by looking down on, judging, comparing to others, or creating "standards" of measurment to their unique position in life in order to stand out.
A couple of thoughts that motivate me:
"Carpe Diem"
"First do no harm"
"Winning isn't everything, a desire to is"
The vast majority of people who get up and got to a pool to swim are not associated with USMS, I'd like to see more of them come on board. The ones I've spoken with have no interest in competing, but they would most likely benefit from coaching and the "social" side of what USMS has to offer.
Maybe this involvement lead to trying meet sometime or possibly they volunteer to help run our meets, maybe they become more committed to fitness, weight lose, overcoming Parkinsons, or just making friends. If we are going to attract and keep these folks then we need to include role models for them and that isn't from articles about so called "elite" masters swimmers.
Those of us who fall into this "elite" category (defined by records, top 10, participation at meets, pushing for NQTs :D , etc), most likely are driven much more by internal motivation than relying on Swim magazine (no offense Phil & Bill).
It saddens me to think that anyone would seek to elevate their own self esteem by looking down on, judging, comparing to others, or creating "standards" of measurment to their unique position in life in order to stand out.
A couple of thoughts that motivate me:
"Carpe Diem"
"First do no harm"
"Winning isn't everything, a desire to is"
