I feel a little like our old friend Ion Beza. He always complains about the age groups that he swam in and how unfair it is. Anyway, I saw the NT's for my age group and in the 100's there were 2 second drops from last year and in the 200's 4 seconds drop. Anyway, it drives home on how medicroe I am and worst in my middle age than my youth. Granted, I can swim butterfly better than last year but the best stroke breaststroke hasn't improved since last summer. Anyone else feel the same way. I know that in your middle years swimming should be more of an exercise and I don't want the shoulder operations or knee prpblems that some master swimmers had.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Scansy
How many USMS members compete and how many just do it for the exercise? Does anyone know?
The USMS website says it's less than half of the members that compete.
Lookingat our ow team, assuming it may represent a cross section of USMS, I gather that about 40% of the members compete, and only 20% compete on regular basis, if that many.
Out of 100+ members, there have been meets where only 4-5 of us are there. Other times, we have a showing of 30+ at a regional meet.
For me, I do it for the exercise. Being that I'm competetive by nature, I use competition as a tool to keep motivates, and also, as a good measure of progress.
I'm still much slower that the rest of the people in my age group, butthat doesn't phase me much, because, most of them have either swam as kids or in college, and have a lot of the technique down, or they've been swimming actively (and are in much bettershape) than I am at the moment, after only swimming for 5 months. Looking at *them*, and getting discouraged would be like a caterpillar being upset it's not a butterfly yet. Makes no sense, and it's counterproductive.
This is where some focus on well defined short term goals can help you from getting distracted and getting down on yourself.
Always do the best that YOU can. And remember that your best can vary from one day to another.
As for other people... thereare so many variables involved, that you can't really compare yourself to others, and do either one a justice.
The way I see it competition is a way to stretch yourself, not to show that you're better than someone else.
Well, okay, I'm stepping off the soapbox now! :)
Originally posted by Scansy
How many USMS members compete and how many just do it for the exercise? Does anyone know?
The USMS website says it's less than half of the members that compete.
Lookingat our ow team, assuming it may represent a cross section of USMS, I gather that about 40% of the members compete, and only 20% compete on regular basis, if that many.
Out of 100+ members, there have been meets where only 4-5 of us are there. Other times, we have a showing of 30+ at a regional meet.
For me, I do it for the exercise. Being that I'm competetive by nature, I use competition as a tool to keep motivates, and also, as a good measure of progress.
I'm still much slower that the rest of the people in my age group, butthat doesn't phase me much, because, most of them have either swam as kids or in college, and have a lot of the technique down, or they've been swimming actively (and are in much bettershape) than I am at the moment, after only swimming for 5 months. Looking at *them*, and getting discouraged would be like a caterpillar being upset it's not a butterfly yet. Makes no sense, and it's counterproductive.
This is where some focus on well defined short term goals can help you from getting distracted and getting down on yourself.
Always do the best that YOU can. And remember that your best can vary from one day to another.
As for other people... thereare so many variables involved, that you can't really compare yourself to others, and do either one a justice.
The way I see it competition is a way to stretch yourself, not to show that you're better than someone else.
Well, okay, I'm stepping off the soapbox now! :)
