Triathletes

"Or, why be mediocre at one sport when you can be mediocre at three, and thereby above average in triathlon. There is some talent in being able to do all 3 things". - Alicia Parr Why not extend that analogy to IM? One could be simply mediocre in all four competitive strokes, and yet adequate in IM. Most competitors have at least one "bad" IM component that hinders their overall performance. I speak from experience on this - backstroke and I just don't get along. Hah! Good analogy. I always did enjoy the IM, especially the 400, even if the backstroke portion was all about minimizing the damage so I could attack on the breastroke! :) Too bad they didn't have 800 IM's, 1000 IM's. Then I could have been pretty good.

OK, so I was thinking seriously about joining our local masters swim group, came to this forum to find out some info., saw this thread, read it and am now thinking I don't want to belong to a group who doesn't want me there for any reason other than the collection of my membership dues. I'm sure if you came to our local tri club and expressed an interest in doing a triathlon, you would get an overwhelming response of support from other club members. Everywhere I seem to go - the local running club, local group rides of cyclists- the response is the same. I always identify myself as a triathlete and always seem to get the cold shoulder. I have never made any waves about it and don't intend to. But, I also won't join and support any groups who really don't want me there, no matter how unfounded their opinions are. Thanks for shedding some light! Oh, don't take these comments that way. Some comments are knuckleheaded, but mostly in jest. Pure runners, road cyclists, and masters swimmers all have their idiosyncratic way of doing things. If you express a genuine interest in trying to learn & understand those ways, you'll be welcomed and appreciated. It's like travelling to another country and showing some willingness to try the local language, even if you butcher it. The effort is appreciated. It can be frustrating when the occasional triathlete comes in and disregards the "rules of the road", since these rules are there for practical reasons.

I agree with Alice . The are always a few that complain and always a few that are willing to exxplain the routine and be helpful.

"Or, why be mediocre at one sport when you can be mediocre at three, and thereby above average in triathlon. There is some talent in being able to do all 3 things". - Alicia Parr Why not extend that analogy to IM? One could be simply mediocre in all four competitive strokes, and yet adequate in IM. Most competitors have at least one "bad" IM component that hinders their overall performance. I speak from experience on this - backstroke and I just don't get along.

Originally posted by lefty The problem is, you can buy speed in the bike portion. If I switched bikes with Lance Armstrong he would have a hard time keeping up with me (and I am not saying that for effect. It really is true). Wow. Unless you rode the tour this year, and the bike you're switching with Lance wieghs about 200 pounds, that was complete crap.

Originally posted by 330man Jeff, I am so glad you made that comment. I was tempted to say that this thread is the height of hipocrisy. Oops, there it went. Anyhow, don't you all think that triathletes think that we are missing out on cycling or running? I would imagine they think of themselves as having a more balanced workout. Maybe they are wrong and maybe they are right. Either way it does not really matter. What matters is that we as swimmers should be a bit more tolerant of athletes who choose a different path than we do. Do yourselves and the sport of swimming a favor, welcome athletes from all backgrounds. The more people involved in swimming the better it will be for all of us. That kind of logic and tolerance has no place in a Troll-induced thread like this! Shame on you!

1. To be a really fast triathlete, you have to be able to swim with the top SWIMMERS, ride with the top CYCLISTS, and run with the top RUNNERS. There's nothing mediocre in that. 2. Fast triathletes train with members of the individual sports... swimming with a club team, cycling on a team in bike races, and running with a running club. 3. I'd rather swim with a USS club team than with a masters team. Every masters team I've tried isn't enough volume or intensity for my needs. 4. Y'all may think that triathletes are cult-ish and selfish. I call myself selfish, sure, but a better word would be "dedicated." It is not easy to fit in all the training and still get the needed rest. 5. I think of the most fun things to do is to beat people at a race in their sport. Open water swims, cycling criteriums, and running road races. Wanna race?? oh and dont tell me to lighten up. I don't care that much ;)

As far as the IM analogy goes, it is not a good one. Last time I saw an IM it was all the same sport. Different strokes in swimming are not different sports. Secondly, if I had known how uptight people on here are, I would have never said a thing. If someone can't take a JOKE and decides not to to masters swimming, I say someone that uptight couldn't handle a workout anyway. This is supposed to be fun, I think "The Good Smith" started in jest and people are just way too sensitive!

Here in Galesburg, we have a minitri in September. teh swimmign is only 400 yds. I always wonder why bother! Anyway yesterday a few of the participants began to practice their swimming. they don't swim all year then wonder why they're no good. The ask some of the dumbest questions. But I'm glad to be in a pool with other people!

I'm thinking of briefly entering the "other" world and swimming on a triathlon relay in September. I may swim over the top of a few triathletes on the start and take it out hard so they can't catch me. I'll wear some fistacuffs for the start. Someone needs to remind them they have puny upper bodies and can't swim. Having a 43 year old sprinter beat them should provide some much needed humiliation..... :-) John Smith