The Fastest Age

The Proof is in the pudding so to say! Since Ion didn't respond in regards to my last comment, I will follow Red Cross guidelines and since no answer, consent is implied. Here is my proof to disprove Ion's statement/theory - whatever, that a person who did not swim during their optimal growth years (13 to 19 years of age) could not be a successful masters swimmer (being able to produce a top 10 USMS time) because they have an underdeveloped VO2 max. - since Ion will want proof and names I will give them, which I really prefer not to but maybe this will finally stop this VO2 max nonsense. For the record I did not swim during the my growth years (13 to 19 yrs of age) - I swam age group for a couple of years but quit when I was 11 and didn't start swimming until later on in college when I was 20 (criteria 1 met). I have a couple of top ten times (from relays but still I had to swim/participate) (criteria 2 met, well sort of). Okay you want individual times, I have not posted a top ten times of late, so taking a little liberty since I can't find the top ten times for 86 -88 when I swam college, I'll compare my college times when I swam in my early 20's compared to the current list of top ten times from 93 to present for the 19-24 age group. There are only 2 years (96 and 2001) that I would have failed in posting a top ten time, comparing my fastest college time to the current top ten list. (my college times were: 200 free - 1:50.14 1000 free - 12:02.23 1650 free - 20:01.71 400 IM - 4:47.33 You can ask Rick Shippherd, the current Industry Hills coach about my departure from swimming when he use to coach the Rosemead Swim Team (he'll actually remember my older brother Dan more since it was 20+ years ago). Still not good enough because I have taken some liberties, Rich Juhala is someone who fits this category completely. He took swim lessons when he was younger (7 or 8), he said the extent of his lessons was holding onto the side of the pool and kicking. He never swam age group and didn't start swimming competitively until the late 80's (in his 40's) since he wanted to do Tri's. He has posted several top ten swims (200 fly and 400 IM). Fully meets the criteria of no age group swimming yet posted a masters top ten time. Q.E.D. In regards to triathletes, training and technique - I currently have someone who is training to qualify for Hawaii (He actually qualified and raced 2 years ago - why he wants to go back I don't know) I've been working with him for a couple of years. His swim time usually is around 1hr 5min - he will most likely be around 55 minutes this year and be better rested for the bike and run. We have not changed his training much except for the fact that his swimming has gotten faster in the last couple of months after we did some underwater videotaping and stroke analysis, he is now more efficient and relaxed and hence is swimming faster (not because of an increased V02 but better technique). I don't have the answer why I was able to get back into the water after almost a 10 year lay off and post somewhat respectable times or how Rich has been successful in making the top ten. Mental will power, genetics, natural feel for the water or maybe plain dumb luck that the fast people opted for other events to swim rather than the events we swam. Hopefully this has perorated (per dorothyrd) this part of the discussion in regards to VO2 max. Jeff

The Proof is in the pudding so to say! Since Ion didn't respond in regards to my last comment, I will follow Red Cross guidelines and since no answer, consent is implied. Here is my proof to disprove Ion's statement/theory - whatever, that a person who did not swim during their optimal growth years (13 to 19 years of age) could not be a successful masters swimmer (being able to produce a top 10 USMS time) because they have an underdeveloped VO2 max. - since Ion will want proof and names I will give them, which I really prefer not to but maybe this will finally stop this VO2 max nonsense. For the record I did not swim during the my growth years (13 to 19 yrs of age) - I swam age group for a couple of years but quit when I was 11 and didn't start swimming until later on in college when I was 20 (criteria 1 met). I have a couple of top ten times (from relays but still I had to swim/participate) (criteria 2 met, well sort of). Okay you want individual times, I have not posted a top ten times of late, so taking a little liberty since I can't find the top ten times for 86 -88 when I swam college, I'll compare my college times when I swam in my early 20's compared to the current list of top ten times from 93 to present for the 19-24 age group. There are only 2 years (96 and 2001) that I would have failed in posting a top ten time, comparing my fastest college time to the current top ten list. (my college times were: 200 free - 1:50.14 1000 free - 12:02.23 1650 free - 20:01.71 400 IM - 4:47.33 You can ask Rick Shippherd, the current Industry Hills coach about my departure from swimming when he use to coach the Rosemead Swim Team (he'll actually remember my older brother Dan more since it was 20+ years ago). Still not good enough because I have taken some liberties, Rich Juhala is someone who fits this category completely. He took swim lessons when he was younger (7 or 8), he said the extent of his lessons was holding onto the side of the pool and kicking. He never swam age group and didn't start swimming competitively until the late 80's (in his 40's) since he wanted to do Tri's. He has posted several top ten swims (200 fly and 400 IM). Fully meets the criteria of no age group swimming yet posted a masters top ten time. Q.E.D. In regards to triathletes, training and technique - I currently have someone who is training to qualify for Hawaii (He actually qualified and raced 2 years ago - why he wants to go back I don't know) I've been working with him for a couple of years. His swim time usually is around 1hr 5min - he will most likely be around 55 minutes this year and be better rested for the bike and run. We have not changed his training much except for the fact that his swimming has gotten faster in the last couple of months after we did some underwater videotaping and stroke analysis, he is now more efficient and relaxed and hence is swimming faster (not because of an increased V02 but better technique). I don't have the answer why I was able to get back into the water after almost a 10 year lay off and post somewhat respectable times or how Rich has been successful in making the top ten. Mental will power, genetics, natural feel for the water or maybe plain dumb luck that the fast people opted for other events to swim rather than the events we swam. Hopefully this has perorated (per dorothyrd) this part of the discussion in regards to VO2 max. Jeff