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.
Former Member
it seems like masters swimming is getting more and more competitive in general
It seems the data exists to address this question. Someone would just have to sacrifice some pool time to track all the times for all the events, for all the age groups...
This is a jerky comment. If you were refering to me, I wasn't complaining, Steve. And, since you're an infrequent poster, I will assume you know nothing about my times, training, goals or frequently expressed admiration for our great masters athletes. Frankly, I'd love to quit my day job, train more, and swim in more meets. That doesn't make me guilty of "sour grapes," it makes me guilty of wanting to improve and being periodically frustrated by obstacles. I don't think anyone will hang me for that. Maybe they'll just start reading ande's blog with me.
In any event, my main inquiry really went to the issue of whether competition was increasing in masters ranks. I see Kirk thinks it isn't. I had just observed that in my age group it definitely has and wondered why.
(For the record, I couldn't swim at 6:00 am. I have 3 kids to get off to 3 different schools.)
I did not see it that way at all...no worries.
As for 7K per workout...great scott! That is a seriously intense USMS workout program.
I suppose swimming could have separate "elite" divisions of races like running and triathlons do, but for some reason that is hard to articulate I am not sure I really like that idea. There is something cool about being in a heat with an Olympian, even if it means getting creamed. :notworthy:
Every time I got out of the water and checked out my results at Nationals, this little voice inside my head kept saying, "Nice swim, Jeff, and you didn't winter-swim." True, I can't compete against those guys yet, but I am close, and for me to be there, its a true testament to working hard with the cards I've been dealt.
I strive to beat down the door of top 10 times competing against guys my age who've been swimming year-round their whole lives and guys like AndyE, Kirk, Jim Clemmons, David Barra, etc., who have probably been swimming competitively longer than I've been alive. But I am happy to do that and up to the challenge!
I can't tell you how happy I will be to have Fort's "problem" of yesterday, taking 3 kids to 3 different schools in lieu of making practice myself. I hope she knows how awesome a mom she is. :notworthy: :cheerleader:
I strive to beat down the door of top 10 times competing against guys my age who've been swimming year-round their whole lives and guys like Jim Clemmons, etc., who have probably been swimming competitively longer than I've been alive.
Okay, I may be "old" but HEY, I'm not THAT old.
I think I joined a swim club in 1979, so I've been swimming competitively for 28 years by that measure. I didn't compete for ten years after college, so technically I've been swimming competitvely for a mere 18 years. :)
And another thing...I've only been swimming year-round since late 1999 but it makes a heck of a difference. So, unless you are like 8 years old, no way I've been swimming year round longer than you've been alive. :)
One minor drawback - it also contributes to a few extra areas of "soreness", takes longer to taper (which I totally blew this year!), oh well. There's always next....
Okay, I may be "old" but HEY, I'm not THAT old.
Jim, don't worry - they way I figure it, if you started swimming at age 6, that'd make you 32! :wave: ;) I'd love to be doing your breaststroke times - now if only I could actually swim that stroke without looking like I am lolly-gaggling.
Fort, get your self a training partner. There is no way I could keep up quality with out competition in the pool. Training by myself or with out someone to push me frustrates the heck out of me. In my short masters career, the times when I have had other swimmers to race in work outs I have made the most gains. When I don't... I gain weight. :rofl:
Kevin
Lefty:
As Beth said, I am somewhat jealous of people who can train like crazy. I'm very compulsive and, if I could, I would. I'd probably be doing aquathlons and entering scads of meets. I really was just noticing that the competition seemed fiercer than usual and hoping to keep up somewhat. I don't really measure myself by KPN. And I'm not a sour grapes kind of person. To the contrary.
Kevin:
Most of the swimmers I know that compete are on teams and don't train alone. I can't go in the early morning, so I joined an evening/weekend team. But lately during the week, I can't seem to get to my practices because my kids have their practices the same nights and same times. On weekends, I have the meet/game problem, especially bad in the spring. Plus, my pool is closed a lot for USS meets. Argh. I need a group that trains at lunchtime, but I don't know any in the area. I'm hoping I can train more with my team this summer. :lolup: I am planning to attend Muppet's meet on July 1, out of shape or not. And I would like to kick my secret nemesis' butt!
Kirk:
As an aside, I just got back from my prolo doc, with whom I discussed the state of his swimming patients' shoulders. During this discussion, he said, "You work out all the time don't you? No kids right?" I practically fell off the chair. So I'm sure training doesn't explain everything, and talent may trump training. But it's tough to swim more than a 100 well without some engine building and all the other stuff you've got to do. Plus, nothing beats a tough workout.
I'm going on a run now because it is absolutely beautiful outside. :banana: Oh, thanks Muppet. I try!
Yikes! The first club team I joined was my masters team almost two years ago.
Kevin, I think you're obviously a talented swimmer.
I'm with Blackbeard's peg, lets take kirk down in the 500 next year
Good luck with that!!
By the way, I'll probably be swimming at the SPMA championship meet at Mission Viejo in August since I don't think I'll make it to LC Nationals. Are you planning on swimming that meet?
I think the trend will always move toward faster swimmers in the top ten. There may be spikes here and there like last years LCM times. But in general history has shown this to be a downward trend. Heck my 16 year old neice split a 23.7 in her 200 free relay that went a 1:36 (a :24 average per leg!)last week. That would beat a lot of fast masters mens teams. Think what times her generation will swim when she's 40!
As for the pros, like others I find their efforts inspiring. Even though I can't train as often I still make the most of it as best as I can. And seeing what others can do gives me hope that I can improve and swim fast into my later years.
Fort, get your self a training partner. There is no way I could keep up quality with out competition in the pool. Training by myself or with out someone to push me frustrates the heck out of me. In my short masters career, the times when I have had other swimmers to race in work outs I have made the most gains. When I don't... I gain weight. :rofl:
Kevin
