Relays seem to spark controversy. Some people love them. Some people see them as an intrusion on their individual events. Some people are forced to scratch events to swim relays because of exhaustion. (I actually know a swimmer who practices with a team but won't officially join the team for fear of having to swim relays at zone or other big meets.) Some people "cherry pick" elite swimmers to set records in relays. Relays make meets run longer.
We're adults, not kids on a USS team. Do we really need relays at masters meets?
I've not actually swum on one, I should point out. I'm just wondering why masters swimmers bother when everyone seems to be gunning for PBs and swimming really seems like an individual sport.
Having said that, an open water relay seems oddly appealing. But that's because the relay is the event. I don't see whatyaall see in swimming lots of events and then adding on relays.
CC said: "Having said that, an open water relay seems oddly appealing. But that's because the relay is the event. I don't see whatyaall see in swimming lots of events and then adding on relays."
We've got one for ya, the Twenty First Annual Manatee 2 x 1 Mile Relay, August 19, 2007, Quarry Lakes in Fremont CA. Bring a friend for the second mile. After the relay you can hang with the Manatees and they can explain how much they enjoyed fielding 30+ relays at SCY Zones, and another dozen or so at LCM, and another 15 relays at World's. Quite a few of our swimmers entered the meet only so they could swim relays. Must be something in the water here.
The other thing to consider is the meet host who gets to budget in all of those relay fees, sure helps the bottom line at zones.
CC said: "Having said that, an open water relay seems oddly appealing. But that's because the relay is the event. I don't see whatyaall see in swimming lots of events and then adding on relays."
We've got one for ya, the Twenty First Annual Manatee 2 x 1 Mile Relay, August 19, 2007, Quarry Lakes in Fremont CA. Bring a friend for the second mile. After the relay you can hang with the Manatees and they can explain how much they enjoyed fielding 30+ relays at SCY Zones, and another dozen or so at LCM, and another 15 relays at World's. Quite a few of our swimmers entered the meet only so they could swim relays. Must be something in the water here.
The other thing to consider is the meet host who gets to budget in all of those relay fees, sure helps the bottom line at zones.
