Some elite masters swimmers appear to be almost quasi "professional" in terms of the time and energy they devote to the sport and my impression is that there are more and more of such swimmers competing in masters now. At least in my two masters age groups to date, women's 40-44 and 45-49, there is a true professional swimmer (KPN), past Olympians swimming amazing times, professional triathletes and professional engine builders. (My spies tell me about their yardage.) Times across the board in my age group were much faster this year than last year. Not sure about the men's times or other women's times. Is it similar?
It seems like a massive amount of time is involved to put in all the yardage, weights, drylands, stretching, RC exercises, cross-training necessary and to go to all the PT, ART, orthopod and massage appointments. Their dedication is admirable. But I have difficulty fitting this all in. :violin: I'm sure most others must too. Life and kids definitely interfere with even getting to practice, wholly apart from a total devotion to swimming. So I can't out-train anyone.
Am I only imagining that masters swimming is getting more competitive? The phenoms are all just genetically talented swimmers? Thoughts anyone?
JUST TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, I AM NOT CRITICIZING ANYONE, JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.
Parents
Former Member
First(ly), I agree with the Fort in part, but I believe if you have the money and time to do nothing but train, great for you! However I also have a life, including other sports to do and other activities to pursue. From a purely brazilian perspective here is what I see.
There are the phenoms, swimmers who were great in their kid's days or youth, who will win your local state or municipal meets, irrespective or your or their training. Hey, I see a former brazilian olympian or almost olympian start a 50 meter breatstroke, and when she comes out of her dive she is already ahead by some two or three yards. I mean, she hasn't started to swim yet, and she already is ahead. I see a guy who swims backstroke and he is under the water for the whole 15 meters in a SCM, he is always ahead of his competition, because he is only swimming parts of the way, because he is a phenomenal guy and knows all the tricky underwater stuff. Power to him! Then later on in age groups, sometimes you will meet this guy who is retired and spends the day training, swimming, dryland, running, cycling...you name it. I have this competitor on my age group at this 1,000 meter o.w. swim, whom I beat based on my having learned to swim at 4 and he at 45. I got some 30 seconds on him, but he swims 3,000 meters every day, plus does all the running and cycling. I would not and will not beat him on a 3,000 much less a 10,000 open water race they have here. Lastly, you are only good in your neighborhood. I once beat a local 400 meter record and this other guy (from another state, not yet legal to count points in my state), well he not only put a lap on me, he put the entire pool on me. When they announced I was the new 400 free record holder I was very embarrassed and laughed together with the guy, who is not really a freestyle swimmer, he was just warming up. Know what he does for a living? He is swim coach, owns a health club, spends the day swimming, plus he was also a prodigy in his youth.
Finally, I know my PBs at each of my distances and I know what I want and how I am doing. Having said all that, aren't you pissed off when this fat, white (from no sun exposure), no muscles, no swimmer look, no training, comes to a meet and beats you in the 50 free by tenths of second? He had the speed way back and still has it...hehehe...sorry for the long post, maybe you want to hear about this kid in a scooter who beat me in a race down some curvy road, beat me in my big racing bike? billy fanstone
First(ly), I agree with the Fort in part, but I believe if you have the money and time to do nothing but train, great for you! However I also have a life, including other sports to do and other activities to pursue. From a purely brazilian perspective here is what I see.
There are the phenoms, swimmers who were great in their kid's days or youth, who will win your local state or municipal meets, irrespective or your or their training. Hey, I see a former brazilian olympian or almost olympian start a 50 meter breatstroke, and when she comes out of her dive she is already ahead by some two or three yards. I mean, she hasn't started to swim yet, and she already is ahead. I see a guy who swims backstroke and he is under the water for the whole 15 meters in a SCM, he is always ahead of his competition, because he is only swimming parts of the way, because he is a phenomenal guy and knows all the tricky underwater stuff. Power to him! Then later on in age groups, sometimes you will meet this guy who is retired and spends the day training, swimming, dryland, running, cycling...you name it. I have this competitor on my age group at this 1,000 meter o.w. swim, whom I beat based on my having learned to swim at 4 and he at 45. I got some 30 seconds on him, but he swims 3,000 meters every day, plus does all the running and cycling. I would not and will not beat him on a 3,000 much less a 10,000 open water race they have here. Lastly, you are only good in your neighborhood. I once beat a local 400 meter record and this other guy (from another state, not yet legal to count points in my state), well he not only put a lap on me, he put the entire pool on me. When they announced I was the new 400 free record holder I was very embarrassed and laughed together with the guy, who is not really a freestyle swimmer, he was just warming up. Know what he does for a living? He is swim coach, owns a health club, spends the day swimming, plus he was also a prodigy in his youth.
Finally, I know my PBs at each of my distances and I know what I want and how I am doing. Having said all that, aren't you pissed off when this fat, white (from no sun exposure), no muscles, no swimmer look, no training, comes to a meet and beats you in the 50 free by tenths of second? He had the speed way back and still has it...hehehe...sorry for the long post, maybe you want to hear about this kid in a scooter who beat me in a race down some curvy road, beat me in my big racing bike? billy fanstone
