Are Triathletes worth the dues they pay toward Masters Swimming?
I say we force all Triathletes to spend one day a week in the sprint lane, one day a week doing stroke (i.e. IM) work, and then make them focus on their starts and turns.
This invasion needs to be controlled.... :-)
John Smith
:)
Parents
Former Member
..a newbie here, but I couldn't resist....
From a business perspective, triathletes support masters teams that may or may not be able to make it without them. We need 'em.
From a swimmer's perspective, Triathletes may seem "one dimensional", self-centered or even anti-social (come on..swimming IS a social sport isn't it?). Maybe there's a little jealousy here - I think a lot of us wish we could do the "other two" like we swim.
From a coaching perspective, triatheletes are unique animals that bring a different intensity that can be welcome in a workout evironment. So they wear paddles ("beat 'em"); so they only swim freestyle ("beat 'em at breastroke"); so they run 10K at lunch ("join em and beat 'em for the first 2 miles"). It all adds a different flavor to a pool environment and perhaps a fun mental challenge for long-time swimmers.
In my former life, I've had the unique priviledge to coach an Ironman champion and the 2001 USMS swimmer of the year in the same workouts. Sure the triathletes ("all this stroke") and the swimmers ("all they do is freestyle") grumbled; but the coexisted quite well in separate lanes in the same pool. As Betsy stated, it's about proper workout management - that's the coach's responsibility.
Both types of athletes are unique racehorses and I offer that each provide an opportunity for motivation and inspiration that crosses disciplines. Viva La Difference! I say.
..a newbie here, but I couldn't resist....
From a business perspective, triathletes support masters teams that may or may not be able to make it without them. We need 'em.
From a swimmer's perspective, Triathletes may seem "one dimensional", self-centered or even anti-social (come on..swimming IS a social sport isn't it?). Maybe there's a little jealousy here - I think a lot of us wish we could do the "other two" like we swim.
From a coaching perspective, triatheletes are unique animals that bring a different intensity that can be welcome in a workout evironment. So they wear paddles ("beat 'em"); so they only swim freestyle ("beat 'em at breastroke"); so they run 10K at lunch ("join em and beat 'em for the first 2 miles"). It all adds a different flavor to a pool environment and perhaps a fun mental challenge for long-time swimmers.
In my former life, I've had the unique priviledge to coach an Ironman champion and the 2001 USMS swimmer of the year in the same workouts. Sure the triathletes ("all this stroke") and the swimmers ("all they do is freestyle") grumbled; but the coexisted quite well in separate lanes in the same pool. As Betsy stated, it's about proper workout management - that's the coach's responsibility.
Both types of athletes are unique racehorses and I offer that each provide an opportunity for motivation and inspiration that crosses disciplines. Viva La Difference! I say.
