I have been swimming Masters for two years and am 47 years old. I graduated from high school in 1976 and college in 1980. In South Texas the 45-49 age group has consistently had more swimmers at meets and perhaps the closest competition of any male age group. Why does 45-49 have more swimmers than 40-44 and 50-54, the two neighboring age groups? There are some very fast guys in this age group, who obviously have not taken long breaks (e.g. decades) from swimming. They swim modern breastroke, not legacy breastroke.
Are we 45-49 guys just a demographic phenomenum? Our kids are a certain age, we got a bit fat, and decided to get active again? Or was there a swimmer population bubble in the late 70s and early 80s?
Is this bubble going to follow me when I age up or does some percentage of swimmers retire at 49?
Just an inquiring mind.....
Parents
Former Member
Well I can tell you a few reasons from the new guy:
I'm 43, I have two kids: 10 and 13. So, they pretty much sleep all night.
My job as a cardiac rehab nurse is where I want it.
My parents are getting older and sometimes demanding. I'm married for 23 quick years.
I have some whiney buddies that only call or come around when they need something.
I was looking for something for me, just for me.
I've ALWAYS wanted to swim. I've always admired the rhythm. I like the solitude of being away in the pool alone. I love to run on the treadmill, but it gets loud and becomes a community event at times. That was ok at 25, but now..I like my solitude a lil more.
Like I said, I'm the new guy, as new as you can get, but at nite, when I get up to go to the restroom, unconsciously my mind is injected with breathing, stroking, turning, kicking and seeing the swim in my mind, so...I guess I like it. :p
Mark
Well I can tell you a few reasons from the new guy:
I'm 43, I have two kids: 10 and 13. So, they pretty much sleep all night.
My job as a cardiac rehab nurse is where I want it.
My parents are getting older and sometimes demanding. I'm married for 23 quick years.
I have some whiney buddies that only call or come around when they need something.
I was looking for something for me, just for me.
I've ALWAYS wanted to swim. I've always admired the rhythm. I like the solitude of being away in the pool alone. I love to run on the treadmill, but it gets loud and becomes a community event at times. That was ok at 25, but now..I like my solitude a lil more.
Like I said, I'm the new guy, as new as you can get, but at nite, when I get up to go to the restroom, unconsciously my mind is injected with breathing, stroking, turning, kicking and seeing the swim in my mind, so...I guess I like it. :p
Mark
