This may have been covered before; I'm new here, so I apologize in advance.
I've been cycling rather than swimming for the past 10 years, and I recently got back in the pool as end-of-season cross training. Which of course got me curious about masters programs. I checked out the Masters Nationals psyche sheets and I was really surprised at the lack of depth of the competition.
So heres the question: why do so few swimmers choose to compete after college? In comparison to cycling, or running, it seems there are hardly any swimmers competing at a high level over the age of 22 or so. For example, the mens 30-34 100 m free nationals psyche sheet shows 10 people, ranging from :56 to 1:03! 10 people? Is that because most people don't pre-register? Or are there really only a handful of 30-34 men out there who can go under a minute in the 100m free??
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Thanks for the replies. SC nationals does seem a little deeper. I guess I'm just surprised at the overall numbers... compared with cycling and tris/running. But I'm sure its true that many who qualify don't show up for various reasons.
I don't foresee myself competing in swimming anytime soon... my last swim meet was in 1995, and 10 years of biking doesn't do any good for upper body strength. I've lost 15 lbs of muscle mass since college, which isn't good for an ex-sprinter.
PS Jeff C, you're a fast dude! Very inspirational to see those times from someone your age.
Thanks for the replies. SC nationals does seem a little deeper. I guess I'm just surprised at the overall numbers... compared with cycling and tris/running. But I'm sure its true that many who qualify don't show up for various reasons.
I don't foresee myself competing in swimming anytime soon... my last swim meet was in 1995, and 10 years of biking doesn't do any good for upper body strength. I've lost 15 lbs of muscle mass since college, which isn't good for an ex-sprinter.
PS Jeff C, you're a fast dude! Very inspirational to see those times from someone your age.
