One of the virtues (of many) of masters swimming is that we all celebrate a birthday on Jan 1st, at least for LCM, SCM. Which means that I am now 55, except in yards, which PNA obviously calculates in deciding when to bid for Nats, so I won't attend in Federal way 'cause besides being measured in 'yards', I will still be 54, so pfui! Hugh...despite the manifest charms of Federal Way (wheeze), I won't be there for SC Nats.
Who else ages up this year and what age group do you intend to eviscerate?
Parents
Former Member
Last year I changed age groups, went from 50-54 to 55-59. Immediately my competition got better (bettter are they, not I). I think somehow my current age group has more time to practice, specially if they are Federal Employees or Armed Forces, because they retire earlier than self-employed, which is my case. I swim against a guy in a OW competition, who swims two hours every day, runs a lot, and does some cycling. All his time is devoted to sports. The other thing that changes is that some of my former age group records (local stuff, few competitors) might be broken by someone else without any chance of me getting it back, as you cannot go back into your former age group. This year I broke the 400 free local record that was held by a friend of mine (two years older) since 2003. My time was pitiful, but the former record time was more pitiful by a full minute and a half. This due to the schedule having about 5 meets a year and some distances will go without a repeat for a couple of years. Changing age groups might be a factor of depression as you are always reminded that you are older, and older by a full four years! However, as swimmers, we look good, feel good and are good, so even though we age, we age a lot less than the other immense population of non swimmers out there. Happy entry into a tough age group (not yet old, yet not young, however trying to keep the PBs), billy fanstone
Last year I changed age groups, went from 50-54 to 55-59. Immediately my competition got better (bettter are they, not I). I think somehow my current age group has more time to practice, specially if they are Federal Employees or Armed Forces, because they retire earlier than self-employed, which is my case. I swim against a guy in a OW competition, who swims two hours every day, runs a lot, and does some cycling. All his time is devoted to sports. The other thing that changes is that some of my former age group records (local stuff, few competitors) might be broken by someone else without any chance of me getting it back, as you cannot go back into your former age group. This year I broke the 400 free local record that was held by a friend of mine (two years older) since 2003. My time was pitiful, but the former record time was more pitiful by a full minute and a half. This due to the schedule having about 5 meets a year and some distances will go without a repeat for a couple of years. Changing age groups might be a factor of depression as you are always reminded that you are older, and older by a full four years! However, as swimmers, we look good, feel good and are good, so even though we age, we age a lot less than the other immense population of non swimmers out there. Happy entry into a tough age group (not yet old, yet not young, however trying to keep the PBs), billy fanstone
