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
:)
Former Member
The issue is one of compliance.
If you come to Masters swim workouts, learn to do more than just pace freestyle.
Take pride in your strokes and different events people ! Triathletes (in general) need to learn more about swimming than just pace freestyle.
Should we discuss the selfish time consuming training lifestyles of triathletes ?............ :-)
John Smith
Tryin- 2- b-athletes are here to stay
The life style is self-centered?
They have a difficult time reading the clock.
They've got all the new toys, the mask goggles, very cool.
But the worst part is they don't respect the sport!
Triathletes......... I prefer to think of them as "Two-and-a-Third-Athletes". After all, I have yet to see a triathlon with a relatively equal amount of time spent in the water.
I suppose we should keep taking their money and let them swim repeat 800s on their own in an outside lane. It helps fund USMS.
John Smith
Our club is almost half triathletes, and sometimes there is a problem in the lanes. Most of the time our coaches can give a workout for swimmers and triathletes.
From a club stand point, its good most of them get hurt running and end up staying members and swim for a life time.
But boy can some of them drive the old guard swimmers nuts
especially if one gets good.
Don't worry John none to date have gotten that good.
Originally posted by TheGoodSmith
Should we discuss the selfish time consuming training lifestyles of triathletes ?............ :-)
Boy...when they get back from their three hour lunch time bike rides...they're gonna lay into this thread with a vengeance.:)
I think John would light a match at a gas pump just to provoke a good discussion...coached a group of tri's years ago for their swim portion & was amazed at their unwillingness (in general) to consider flip turns ("won't use them in a race, coach; But, Biff, doing a flip turn would stop you from taking that great big bonus breath on your hideously-inefficient open turns therefore aiding in your conditioning!") different strokes ("freestyle is fastest, coach, I don't want to learn another stroke: But, Goof, what if your goggles are knicked off, you cramp up, get overtired- it would be a real asset to be able to temporarily switch strokes-Goof, please stop looking at your pace-watch").
It was also amazing and very tempting to abuse their trust as they were totally open trying any sort of ludicrous diet suggestion or equipment variation is search of 'an edge' rather than applying due effort to solid technical stroke improvement.
Oh, I do go on...say, John, have you heard that Tall Paul secretly always wanted to be a triathlete?
My team is primarily Tri's and exercisers, that is why this ex-sprinter is doing better at distance events than the sprints (but my bad back might hamper the starts a bit). Maybe next year I can improve something below the 200 mark.
I guess for me I would like some company at the meets but even the true swimmers that are in our practices just seem to swim for enjoyment not competition. If the meet is at our pool then they might come.
But I have got to say that everyone at the meets is great and I love meeting new people at every meet. You guys are great.
