May/June cover of USMS Swimmer

Originally posted by scyfreestyler Not sure which Matt you are talking about but that was a great post. Good to hear some other viewpoints on here. The more the merrier!!:D Was talking about you, Matt. thanks Thanks, Peter, I got what you said too. Really wasn't taking it personally, rather speaking from the many unadorned swimmers and I just felt compelled to speak out about how much "we" love USMS.

I agree Gull80 It was "a bit odd" (180 posts later) Honestly I really would use an aquajogger if I was recovering from a running injury. Just don't make me go to those world championships in Finland.

Originally posted by Portland Girl There has been a lot of fun poked at fitness swimmers and I got the impression that you'all think fitness swimmers are just not good enough to be included in your ranks, why else would you have such a hostile reaction over a cover dedicated to swimmers who are not included in your ranks of achievement. The point is that the individuals pictured on the cover, who may or may not be swimmers (fitness or otherwise), are not swimming. We have been poking fun at noodles and the noodlists who use them. I don't believe anyone has been critical of fitness swimmers. Look, if I subscribe to a sailing magazine, I don't want to see a row boat on the cover. Not that I have anything against row boats--they just don't belong there.

Originally posted by Portland Girl I am taking a big breath here and jumping into the proverbial deep end of the pool. As a recent Masters Swimmer enthusiast and relatively new member, I am surprised to see such an animated discussion about a cover of a magazine that as Matt pointed out, is geared towards an entire Masters Swimming membership, not just an elite few who are successful at winning championships. Before I joined Masters Swimming, I learned how to swim laps at a very late age compared to a lot of swimmers and hesitated joining Masters because I thought membership was restricted to the champions, the competitors who excel and who I admire greatly and love to watch and learn from. I learned to enjoy swimming because of the incredibly patient and dear friend who IS a Masters swim champion and I was introduced into the wonderful world of Swim meets, open water swims and everything else that goes with being in the USMS family. I met amazing people of every age group who swam with all levels of fellow swimmers and thankfully, never ran into the attitudes of some of you who have posted here, or I would have run from the pool as fast as I can and never joined USMS. Now, when I meet other beginner swimmers who are hesitant to approach USMS, I tell them my story and how much I love Masters swimming. There has been a lot of fun poked at fitness swimmers and I got the impression that you'all think fitness swimmers are just not good enough to be included in your ranks, why else would you have such a hostile reaction over a cover dedicated to swimmers who are not included in your ranks of achievement. I am thrilled that I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Katz at an open water swim and Sarah Kwan, others who I bet could give you a run, or make that swim, for your money. They are an inspiration to me and turned my whole concept of what most masters swimmers are about totally around, and I am grateful for that because I realize that the small group who snub anyone who doesn't compete and win, is a minute portion of USMS. Hey, guys, who do you think roots for you in the stands, or volunteers to help with the meets you compete and win at? I LOVE going to meets, open water swims because I learn so much about technique and style from watching all you champions, you inspire me to keep growing as a swimmer and one day I hope to be in the pool/lake with you, don't think that we don't appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to compete and win, we do! Having some "ordinary" people on the cover of USMS occasionally makes us feel that Masters swimming is indeed for all of us, not just you. Just a thought from someone who has learned to love swimming, USMS and the new "family" who have made me feel so welcome -- Matt, I would never have had the courage to post here if it weren't for your thoughtful and insightful messages. Not sure which Matt you are talking about but that was a great post. Good to hear some other viewpoints on here. The more the merrier!!:D

I still haven't gotten my copy of this wonderful magazaine. I usually get it on the first saturday of the month it is labelled. Is anyone else having problems with this issue?

No Swimmer Mag for me yet either.

I finally got my magazine in today's mail. I think Mary's article about chlorine and allergies is great. She explains how chlorine isn't an allergen but that it forms an allergen with other particles inthe pool. If a pool is well kept, I was under the understanding that these new particals shouldn't form. Aside from the cover, how do people feel abotu the new magzaine? I still miss Fitness Swimmer! Now it seems that i read about 1/2 t 1/4 of each of our magazine and Swimming World.

Originally posted by Its a slow show I think they were past dead-line to include Masters Nationals. They probably were. It was tight, but the Nationals report made it in to the July/August SWIMMER. I can't wait for you all to see it. We're very pleased with how it's looking, and it'll be a very good example to have circulating around at Worlds. Great cover, too! :)

After getting the latest issue of Swimming World I have to admit that my earlier post about the differences between the two magazines was completely wrong (USMS more on fitness, SW more on competition). SW now calls the former "masters" section "aquatic lifestyle"......and may just as well had a noodling article because there wasn't a single mention about nationals last month....very sad!

I think they were past dead-line to include Masters Nationals.