When a new masters swimmer asked on a different thread for a meters to yard conversion utility, I referred her to the following site:
www.swiminfo.com/.../conversions.asp
Unfortunately, as another poster quickly pointed out, this site will soon be available only to those who pay for it.
I am wondering if someone with some computer savvy could recreate this very useful utility for us masters, then post it in an area of the USMS web site where we could access it for free.
This same area could also include some other useful tools for swimmers. There is, for example, a fun (though perhaps somewhat suspect) "future times predictor" for aging swimmers at:
http://n3times.com/swimtimes/
In addition, my friend and teammate Bill White wrote an Excel spreadsheet (so far not posted on the web) that allows you to easily calculate your 100 pace for distance swims. You can either input the total distance and total time and it will give you your average 100; or you can input the average 100 you hope to swim and the total distance, and it will crank out what your overall time will be if you can hold that pace.
Anyhow, I propose the USMS web site add a new section called something like "Swimmers Tool Box" that collects, in one place, all these useful and/or just fun-to-play-around-with utilities we can come up with. I know many of the posters here are brilliant amateur mathematicians, who enjoy inventing these things; maybe we could even have an annual award for whatever new calculator we users vote as the most interesting! Kind of like a Touring Prize (is that the right name) for swimming math esoterica!
Mea culpa.
I feel like a jerk for my reportage here. Sorry. You guys are both correct: none of us would look good if judged by our least diplomatic moments. Adding further reason for legitimate self-crimination: I am not 100 percent certain the anecdote is 100 percent true (though there's probably some kernel of truth to it.)
Anyhow, my apologies for gossip mongering: it was definitely small minded of me.
Also, in terms of Lefty's suggestion regarding time changes between the age group. This is precisely why I originally started the thread on the old forum about "equivalent times." Basically, I think everyone eventually reaches a point (highly individualized, I concede) where his or her swimming times no longer improve with advancing age. Sometimes, it's a major victory if you can just hold onto things for a long plateau period; sometimes, it's even a greater victory if you can simply slow the rate of decline.
That's what I was hoping to find: a way to feel like you're making relative progress over the years--so that, say, a 2:01 in the 200 free at age 65 causes you equal if not more celebration than a 1:55 at age 49. I realize the Finnish formula et al is hardly the most scientific measure of this in the world. But I must also say: I've had a lot of fun in recent years when I have been able to beat my youngers in a race, then add, "And if you consider the Finnish formula as well, I absolutely trounced you!"
All in good, spirit-crushing, "hear the lamentations of der vomen" style fun!
Mea culpa.
I feel like a jerk for my reportage here. Sorry. You guys are both correct: none of us would look good if judged by our least diplomatic moments. Adding further reason for legitimate self-crimination: I am not 100 percent certain the anecdote is 100 percent true (though there's probably some kernel of truth to it.)
Anyhow, my apologies for gossip mongering: it was definitely small minded of me.
Also, in terms of Lefty's suggestion regarding time changes between the age group. This is precisely why I originally started the thread on the old forum about "equivalent times." Basically, I think everyone eventually reaches a point (highly individualized, I concede) where his or her swimming times no longer improve with advancing age. Sometimes, it's a major victory if you can just hold onto things for a long plateau period; sometimes, it's even a greater victory if you can simply slow the rate of decline.
That's what I was hoping to find: a way to feel like you're making relative progress over the years--so that, say, a 2:01 in the 200 free at age 65 causes you equal if not more celebration than a 1:55 at age 49. I realize the Finnish formula et al is hardly the most scientific measure of this in the world. But I must also say: I've had a lot of fun in recent years when I have been able to beat my youngers in a race, then add, "And if you consider the Finnish formula as well, I absolutely trounced you!"
All in good, spirit-crushing, "hear the lamentations of der vomen" style fun!
