Distance Distance Distance

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 16:27:15 GMT

I once read a quote from Tom Jaeger that said something like: "The best athletes in the pool are the sprinters, because if everyone could sprint they would!" No one wants to be the distance guy. I can't say that the remark is way too far off, if I could have been the 50/100 guy, great! Less yardage and the only grief I have to deal with is the distance lane being bitter that they just finished warmup when we are out of the pool!

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 14:28:49 GMT

"When the going gets tough the sprinters get out." ---(Alabama swimming tee shirt ca. 1978) In Four Champions, One Gold Medal, during the Olympic training camp the sprinters were done with their workout as the distance group was just finishing the warmup.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 13:04:16 GMT

Originally posted by Phil Arcuni Finally, I think Connie misses "he who shall not be named." Oh, suuure! Not very likely!

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 13:03:05 GMT

Originally posted by gull80 Congratulations on your medal. As for the swimmers who didn't enter the event, what they could have/should have/might have done doesn't matter. The fact is that they didn't swim and you did. Same thing applies to everyone else who just sits on the sidelines. It was a big meet--you should be proud of your accomplishments. Yea... you got a point there! Thank you! :)

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 12:26:22 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 I just got a zone meet medal in 200 back, not because I'm fast, but because no one wants to swim it. Congratulations on your medal. As for the swimmers who didn't enter the event, what they could have/should have/might have done doesn't matter. The fact is that they didn't swim and you did. Same thing applies to everyone else who just sits on the sidelines. It was a big meet--you should be proud of your accomplishments.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 16:42:32 GMT

That reminds me, I need a shopping buddy! Anyone??? ;) :p

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 15:41:56 GMT

I'll even swim a 1000 in boiling hot coffee from McDonalds in my clown suit if you agree to these terms. I would buy a ticket and fly across the Atlantic to see that ! :D :D

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 15:10:18 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 nuttin' slow about 1500 in 18-20 minutes! (not me, but several of my teammates) I'd be ecstatic to do a 20 minute 1500m! Around here I doesn't usually have to worry about being pushed out of the points by a flood of people in my age group doing 18-20 minute 1500s, and most of the people around here that are that fast were age-group swimmers. I have no idea what it is like elsewhere.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:42:48 GMT

The only 200 event that hurts is the fly. I can take the other three without a problem. Heck I even like them! I would like to try a 1600 IM once, just to see what it's like. I've thought about doing it during a meet so I can prepair for it. I think after the 400 fly I would be ready to quit.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:11:50 GMT

The Australians have national records for the 1500 back and *** and the 800 fly. Over here there is a 1650 event that has been around for approximately 25 years. I have swum lots of 200's of all strokes, and a few distance events, and I do not think it is possible to finish a distance events with the total shut down of body functions that can happen at the end of a 200. I do not think the pain of the entire 1650 fly that I swam comes close to what I feel during the last 25 yards of a 200 fly. Finally, I think Connie misses "he who shall not be named."

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:05:06 GMT

Originally posted by LindsayNB I think for people that only started swimming as adults completing a 1500 free is a lot easier than completing a 200 fly. I suspect that most of us who took up swimming later in life are blissfully unaware of how slow our 1500 times are, the "real" 1500 swimmers don't do it anymore so we only compare ourselves to the triathletes, many of whom suffer from poor technique, thereby making us look good... :) When we swim in the shorter events and non-free events we are usually swimming against former age-group swimmers and it's all too obvious how slow we are! nuttin' slow abouit 1500 in 18-20 minutes! (not me, but several of my teammates)

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:03:32 GMT

Hey Connie I swam all the distance events at our championships and came in first in all of my events. It wasn't that I am fast (beleive me I am pretty slow)but I was the only one in my age group swimming those events. My attitude is that if no one my age is willing to make the effort to swim then I deserve the first. It really looked great in the local newspaper when they listed all those long distance events and that I got first in them. About the point system our league already does that. You get points according to what place you came in each event. Although I am slow and may not get as many points then those who are faster I can still gain more points then others if I go to more meets. I have managed to finish in the top three in my age group the last four years. I even finished seconed the year I was pregnant. We also have a marathon swim were you have to swim so many yards and get so many points in a season. You get points for every practice, attending meets, and more points for swimming certain distances at meets. You will get more points for swimming the 500 free and the 400 I.M. then you would for swimming 200's.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:03:26 GMT

Originally posted by kerees C'mon Connie... I love distance..still waiting for an official event such as the 800/ 1600/2000 IM. But then again you've seen me swim an 800 IM in Long Beach. Who do think swam four one hour postals this year, one of each stroke? The best ever reliable award is the 200 fly, its never failed me an award even at (selective) nationals. See you next Friday! Karla That' right, it was you... you bionic woman you!!! I was totally impressed!!!!

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:02:51 GMT

Is 1500 free easier than 200 Fly? I think for most people that only started swimming as adults completing a 1500 free is a lot easier than completing a 200 fly. I suspect that many of us who took up swimming later in life are blissfully unaware of how slow our 1500 times are, most of the "real" 1500 swimmers don't do it anymore so we mostly compare ourselves to the triathletes, many of whom suffer from poor technique, thereby making us look good... :) When we swim in the shorter events and non-free events we are usually swimming against former age-group swimmers and it's all too obvious how slow we are!

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 13:53:00 GMT

Originally posted by aquageek Maybe not, shopping for jeans with my wife and daughters is pretty awful also. HA! I'll go jeans shopping with your family if you will attend a family function (e.g. Christmas) with mine. By the time they are done with you, you'll beg to carry your family's purchases. -LBJ

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 13:02:45 GMT

I have been most competitive in the longer races--500 and 1650. I have raced all distances in all events. IMO, nothing hurts more than the last 40 seconds of any 200 event. 200's just hurt too good.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 12:01:16 GMT

and... one more thing... There are a few people that complain about awards being based on how fast you are alone.... Well, in traditional swim meets and races it is the speed that counts the most. here's an idea about allowing dedicated people whom may not be abler to become the fast elite still get some recognition... and it may increase interes in meet attendance, which I understand is pone of the things that USMS would like to see. Why not keep a point system, similar to how it's done in ocean swimming? I mean, I know it would require additional work at USMS and local levels, and even with meet organizers levels to make it happen, and this may be difficult to make happen... Hypothetically speaking, let's assume that logistic can be worked out here's how it could work... This is just a first draft, I'm sure it would need a lot of refinement to make it fair and balanced. - Every USMS or LMSC sanctioned meet would be required to use the point system - not just championship meets. - Swimmer would get a point for attending the meet - A point for not scratching the event - A point for each 100 yards or meters swum... perhaps double points for stroke other than freestyle? - A point for each relay swum... or maybe double points for relays? - Poinst as usual for placing 1- (is it 8th? I forget off the top of my head.) - Any others? Maybe a point or two for volunteering in a meet? - Points would be cumulative for each season SCY SCM and LCM and people would be ranked and recognized for their achievements. (this being the most important part) So other than top 10 in speed, you'd have top xxx in involvement, which I think is nothing to sneaze at. Thsi way, one of the principles of masters swimming, where even though speed does matter, just showing up matters too is reinforced from the top down, and gives people a chance to get recognized for their consistency and involvement in the sport. Look at the race car driving.. it's one of the sports where the point system has helped and instilled that just finishing the race counts too, even if you're not first. I mean, a story about a person that perhaps never placed higher than 5th, but had attended every meet in their area for years and years could be inspiring too. Perhaps even more so than someone who is naturally gifted and only comes to two meets a year. Celebrity and human interest can come in many forms. If we want to expand, we may need to look at other ways of recognizing and acknowledging people, which in turn will breathe new life and interest in the organization and the sport. I know, it's a lot of work and bookkeping to do for organization that relays mostly on volunteers to keep it running, then on the other hand, good things don't happen woithout little hard work and sometimes looking outside the bokx (or past the same ole gutter) Anyway, just some thoughts I wanted to throw out there.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 11:37:44 GMT

Originally posted by breastroker Perhaps we should look to the land Down Under, they swim every distance from 25 meters(my speciality) to 400 meters of each stroke. Now a 400 fly or breaststroke should get the distance people going. I think PMS does a 1650 IM each year! At least that would put the TRi's down for a while. Hey, Wayne, would you like to make an exhibition event at our next meet, and do a 400 ***??? Maybe during the 400 freestyle? Challenge a few people? Maybe we could do a 400 anything but free event... one of the unofficial events... like we had that fun-fin relay earlier this year. Okay, I'm not sure where I'm going with this.. maybe after I see some feedback the ideas will start taking more of a final form. I have to say, one of the gals from Mountain view did, I believe an 800 IM last winter during the SCM Zone meet, during the 800 free event. Lot of people were impressed.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 11:31:11 GMT

Originally posted by knelson You know, it is sort of strange. Most of us train nearly year-round, several days per week. Yet we get to a meet and decide a 400 IM is too much pain. Heck, you're done with it in 5 minutes, give or take! One problem with distance events (200s of stroke, 400 IM, or 500 and above free) is you can't fake your way through them. Anyone who's a good swimmer could step up on the blocks and knock out a nice 50 even if they haven't been in the water for a couple years, but I'd like to see them try a 500 free :) So maybe that's part of the problem. In Masters many of us can't devote a huge amount of time to training and it's just to humiliating to swim the longer events where you come nowhere near the times you swam when you were 12 years old. So this might be one area where you "late bloomers" have an advantage!! What I found kind of ridiculous that I place second in a SW Zone meet doing the 200 back in 4 minutes 38 seconds. (35-39 age group) Painfully slow!!! (It was my first time doing it). I'm baffled that in the entire SW Zone all of the 35-39 year olds... there were only two of us dong the event. I mean, anyone that had swam that event more then once or had trained that stroke t least a little bit, or has some age group experience would have easily placed above my time. Wouldn't even have to swim it race-pace... just stretching it out would do. Not that I mind a medal in an individual event, but getting second in 200 Back, and third in 100 back and third in 50 back in my age group at Zone championships (all first-time events for me and very slow)... getting 2nds and thirds for that is just plain wrong. Not that I mind the medal... but it was by default. It was similar with 200 fly and 200 *** (I didn't swim those as I don't know those strokes well enough to not get DQ'd) Then, on the other hand, we had people clamoring to swim 1500 free and 800 free, and few of them being little bummed that we had to limit that event to 8 heats. I;'m not sure where I;m going with this... it's just an observation, and it's making me go Hmmm? What's up with that? Is 200 fly not "enough of a distance?" or does distance only count for freestyle? Would you guys niot get a sense of accomplishment out of finishing a 200 *** or 200 Fly? Is 1500 free easier tham 200 Fly? Even one of my close friends that in practice often does 800 fly screatched her 200 fly. I don't get it. Or should I say, I can't relate... where's the hangup? It must be some sort of a mental block? Maybe we should give special heat winner prizes for those events?

RE: Distance Distance Distance

aquageek — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 10:24:30 GMT

DEAL! I'll take clothes shopping with my family, your whole family at Christmas and Thanksgiving. You agree to take my mother in law. I'll even swim a 1000 in boiling hot coffee from McDonalds in my clown suit if you agree to these terms.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 09:40:57 GMT

Perhaps we should look to the land Down Under, they swim every distance from 25 meters(my speciality) to 400 meters of each stroke. Now a 400 fly or breaststroke should get the distance people going. I think PMS does a 1650 IM each year! At least that would put the TRi's down for a while.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

kerees — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 09:39:26 GMT

C'mon Connie... I love distance..still waiting for an official event such as the 800/ 1600/2000 IM. But then again you've seen me swim an 800 IM in Long Beach. Who do think swam four one hour postals this year, one of each stroke? The best ever reliable award is the 200 fly, its never failed me an award even at (selective) nationals. See you next Friday! Karla

RE: Distance Distance Distance

aquageek — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 09:25:16 GMT

When did a 200 become a distance event? I gotta agree with old dog, the last 75 of a 200 might be the most painful thing known to man. Maybe not, shopping for jeans with my wife and daughters is pretty awful also.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 08:36:03 GMT

Now that we are talking about shopping .... I recently had a miserable experience... We were at Disney last week. After we checked out of the resort, my wife asked if we could go to "Downtown Disney". I made the mistake of saying OK. This was nothing more than a series of stores selling anything and everything with Disney logos, characthers, etc on it. After walking in and out of at least 20 stores all day, I realized how much I dislike shopping and my wallet smelled like burnt rubber. My wife said it was her favorite day of the whole trip though.... so I kept my mouth shut. I would have rather swam an 8 mile open water swim wearing Geek's clown suit in molten McDonalds lava, while kids on noodles blocked my progress, Mr. Moose rode on my back working VO2Max shampoo into my hair and you know who swam alongside babbling about being a late bloomer. Oh, and I would even do fly.

RE: Distance Distance Distance

Former Member — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 08:11:50 GMT

I'll even swim a 1000 in boiling hot coffee from McDonalds in my clown suit if you agree to these terms. GO ...GO...GO...Ronald Mc Donald..............lol