Triathletes

Most adults don't like to seem stupid so they don't ask questions. I know I have a lot to learn in swimming and want to improve. It would be nice if you "swimmer" assumed that and offered help and not just criticism. I have learned a lot here about technique and etiquette. I'm always the first to share my lane or circle swim, but if I went to your pools I'd have no idea which lane to swim in unless it were marked by time or ability. BTW: does anyone other than the swimmers waiting to swim and parents even watch swimming? Millions of non-participants/athlete watch: running events, cycling events, and Tris. Does swimming even have a publication that rivals Runner's World, Cycling, or Triathlon where none are sponsored by the governing organization? If there is I'd like to read it. Never found one. All swimmers in the pool need to obey the coach and workouts regardless of being a "swimmer", "triathlete", or "exerciser", but if it wasn't for the latter two, I think our pools will be turned in to skate parks very soon. :2cents::2cents: Four cents because I got long winded, sorry.:wine: 1. Bill, I really think most swimmers are more helpful than critical. I am always asking questions and willing to help anyone that has a question. Most masters lanes are organized by ability. It's not particularly difficult to figure out which one to hop in or the coach can tell you. 2. As to attendance, I never get a seat at the Tom Dolan meet here and it pisses me off. No problem watching a triathlon or most running races. 3. The word "obey" just creeps me out. Masters swimmers have to adapt the workouts to meet their individual needs, abilities and physical condition. I'm like George, no pull buoys or paddles please! Still, most people I know roughly stick to the workout and intervals with minor adaptations. I don't get the reference to a skate park. I always share my lap lanes and try to be courteous when swimming on my own, which is unfortunately the norm lately.

Spitz proves my point. We all remember him swimmer and non-swimmer. How many non-swimmers know or care about Phelps, Thorpe, Sanders, and "whats her name" who is only known for being on/in Playboy? How about this, find a single promo for the Olympics that includes a triathlete. Ask anyone who the star of the Olympics is and everyone will say Phelps. Did you watch NBC on the day exactly one year before the Olympics? Who did they send to China to promote it? Not a triathlete, track and field star, gynmast, no, they sent a swimmer. How many kids tris or kids swim meets you been to lately? Go check em out and draw your own conclusions. Since when do triathlons determine the best over all athlete, as you say? The decathlon has always been the judge of that, not some new sport added recently. C'mon, man, get your sports history right. Get your whole post right, for that matter.

Spitz proves my point. We all remember him swimmer and non-swimmer. How many non-swimmers know or care about Phelps, Thorpe, Sanders, and "whats her name" who is only known for being on/in Playboy? :duel: Anyone who tunes in even periodically or reads the paper knows who Phelps and Thorpe are. And Amanda Beard is a decorated Olympian, not just a pin up.

That's funny. Around here they say, "If I could only swim well, I'd be much better at tris." Must be the proximity to The University of Texas. Good one, but I shall be using your back fence as my latrine next year as a result of this mocking post.

As far as kids go, check out kids swim meets versus kids tris, the ratio is like 100:1. Having attended both, Bill, I would say this is not an "invented fact." There is never, ever, enough seating at USS meets or even at small summer league dual meets. Age group swimming is huge, and just keeps growing. By comparison, very few age groupers are running before high school and even fewer are doing triathlons. Swimming is vastly more popular. I've been to triathlons with my teenager where there is barely a spectator or very few. However, I'm sure Lake Placid or Kona are better attended.

Funny, my swim coaches had everyone using zoomers, long fins, small pads and large ones, buoys, and boards. Both are USMS certified and one swam in the 96 Olympics for Bulgaria. I read here that most of y'all don't use any "toys", but I HAVE to do what my coach says....resistance if futile! Most coaches use toys. Most of my team uses toys. I use toys too. I like some toys. Just not pull buoys, paddles and kickboards! (Except, I've found I don't mind using a pull buoy for BR pulls.) I'm not a purist like that Geochuck fellow at all; I'm just watching out for my shoulders. Plus, I use fins, my MF, just started using my kid's BR fins and am still hoping to master my dorkle one day ... Toys = good fun. Go learn fly! Can't be a great athlete without that. :thhbbb:

I respect Triathletes.I agree it is an interesting event and probably been good to swimming. The distances are arbitrary based on a ratio from pre-existing events and unfair to the swimmers. As for me,it's distance event am I'm not interested in doing it.I have to agree with Geek(how weird is that) on the popularity issue. I also think Swimming World is a pretty good magazine.(How old is Runner's World? Swimming World has been around since the early 60s and it's predecessor since the 50s.)

Bill,I think you are pulling all our chains. Swimming was an event at the first Modern Olympics(Athens 1896.) Also Dynamo in Atlanta is one of the premier teams in USAS.I love to watch track.30 years ago I'd have agreed that the average person would have rated the track athletes as the top athletes. For reasons I don't understand Track is not as popular in the US as it was.I think that is sad and hope it makes a comeback.

Fort. glad you said all FOUR strokes(but then you are a Zone Champion in breaststroke.)

Geek: You missed the funniest thing about Tri-geeks (sorry that's what we call them). A guy carrying 30+ pounds of lard, bragging about spending $250 on titanium seats posts to shave 5 grams. I think, "dude eat a salad and shave pounds off the bike!" We make fun of them too. Beth: You live toward Lake Lanier. But as I said earlier, swimming seems to be like gymnastics. Great for kids, but then they forget it. You live in the blessed area. I'm asking for help, I live in Mableton GA (west Cobb), someone find a coach/team within 20 miles and I'll do a 200 Fly (gauntlet thrown down). Dynamo is in Dekalb and Gwinnett counties. Rainbow Trout only have evening practices. I've called the (770) clubs they are on the other side or closed (mostly southside of Atlanta). I (like most -athletes) want to be a swimmer. I'm serious. I've been asking for help. Pony up!