Swim Rant

I may be echoing rants as this thread is very long and contains a lot of content I can definatly relate too! 1. Being referred to as a "rec" swimmer. 2. Having to answer the question; "how many laps do you swim?" after I tell people I swim... 3. I realize the pool needs money, and we scoot over a couple of lane's to accommodate the noodlers, but do they have to play that crappy pop-disco music from the late 70's? 4. Pool's that don't have a Masters program or any kind of "open lap" swimming, yet are used extensively by USA swim teams, Like Roseville Aquatics Complex which has an LCM pool named after Summer Sanders...they have a "rec swim" but they dont allow you to swim intervals. ( I think they are just trying to keep us mature swimmers out) 5. Having most of the Pacific meets in the bay area, that is having to drive at least 2 hours one way to most all the meets. 6. Not being fast enought to enter a USA meet ...many of them are much closer to home! :( (but then I may have to endure the looks of scrutiny from the parents :mad:, if I did qualify, which would give me something else to rant about) 7. Pools that use Bromine or are badly maintained, like over-chorinated...

I hate locker rooms and pools with no where to put your stuff except on the floor! What happened to the concept of hooks or bars on the walls? Are they too expensive now?

People who are really fast who only work out 3 days a week and wear fins. Honest it is not me, I only workout 2 days a week,and wear fins, and talk, and don't do the whole workout,but I have alot of fun. Oh yeah, I save everything for the last hard 50 and blow everyone away. I am loved.

today's rant is on swim meets with a stupid order of events. The guiding principle to select a meets order of events should be to serve the needs of the majority, to give swimmers the best chance to swim fast in their by having enough rest between races. Place events in an order so there is a low probability of swimmers doing them back to back. ie: not many 50 freestylers do the 400 IM = good back to back events lots of 50 freestylers also swim the 50 fl, 50 bk, 100 fl, 100 bk, 100 fr, or 200fr = bad back to back events In an up coming meet the following events are back to back: 200 IM & 100 fr 50 fly, 4 x 100 fr relay, 100 bk & 50 bk & 100 IM so in each case I picked one event. You can game to get more rest, enter your first event really slow and the last event really fast, in big meets this can add several heats. In small meets you can ask the meet host to take breaks after every few events. Meet directors please choose excellent event orders, provide swimmers with more rest between events so they can perform at their highest levels.

my other rant is for a friend of mine. Last year he swam in a meet that offered "200 Stroke of choice" He chose backstroke, swam a time that would have ranked #1 in his age group, but after the meet, the swim wasn't counted because there is no such event as "stroke of choice." That event needed to be worded: "200 freestyle, backstroke, breastroke, butterfly or IM swum as a combined heat, chose one." He protested and appealed their decision to the highest level and lost. He swam a really excellent 200 backstroke.

my other rant is for a friend of mine. Last year he swam in a meet that offered "200 Stroke of choice" He chose backstroke, swam a time that would have ranked #1 in his age group, but after the meet, the swim wasn't counted because there is no such event as "stroke of choice." That event needed to be worded: "200 freestyle, backstroke, breastroke, butterfly or IM swum as a combined heat, chose one." He protested and appealed their decision to the highest level and lost. He swam a really excellent 200 backstroke. &%^$%*ing bureaucrats!!!!!!!

Two issues that always bother me: 1. Having to explain circle swimming to the "newbies" that appear each fall and New Year after they resolve to lose weight. They resent the explanation for some reason (might be my bad attitude after years of explanations. Explanations that appear required despite the clear diagrams posted at the front of each lane). The other thing I find (not that it bothers me much) is that few people want to share a lane with me because I am a pretty fast swimmer. I could care less if they want to share: just swim in proper circles. 2. My personal issue: that one guy that insists on carrying on a full, detailed conversation while we are in the changing room at 5:30 am. Maybe he likes yapping at that hour, but I like silence. Quieter the better. If I liked constant noise, I would take up a sport where my mouth and ears are NOT submerged in water all the time. Man am I becoming a crusty old man these days. One happy point: where I live there are always clearly marked lap swimming lanes that are defended by the lifeguards dependably. We do have "noodlers", but they are kept to themselves and only during scheduled classes. They are NEVER allowed in the lane swimming and will be asked to move by the guard. I rarely have any problems doing a full demanding work-out whenever I want. I really feel sorry for you American swimmers; it sounds like your pools all need barium enemas to clean out the "noodle" hippos.

New rant: I didn't charge my shuffle this week and it wouldn't even turn on today. I had to get in and do my 2 miles without music. Meh. -eric

Middle aged people who workout for more than an hour a day 4-5 days a week. Get a life ! John Smith Or a job. If I found work maybe I couldn't spend 5-6 days a week, 2-3 hours at a time at the YMCA. (My skin smells weird, my hair changes color daily, and I itch a lot, but I look GOOD!) -eric

Swimmers who constantly gripe about event orders. Pssssssssht! Real swimmers, AKA Breaststrokers:weightlifter:, are strong and talented enough to handle back to back on several events and not whine... please...fly-backers:toohurt:...stick to the outside lanes if you can't handle it...then you'll gripe about lack of lane lines on the wall side...:whiteflag: :bump::banana::mooning::rofl: PS If you think this is directed at you...you're right and you're going down on Sunday... :chug: