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??
Former Member
Lack of competition? Holy moly, having 16 people in the fast lane(s) today at practice, all of whom can go under 1:00-1:05 in LCM, sure blows a hole in that theory.
16? At our practice this morning there were only two of us, so I was the fast lane. Of course we swim at 5:30am.
BTW, if anyone is passing through Austin and wants a place to swim, check out Nitro Swimming.
Lack of competition? Holy moly, having 16 people in the fast lane(s) today at practice, all of whom can go under 1:00-1:05 in LCM, sure blows a hole in that theory.
I guess that just goes to show how unrepresentative Summer masters nationals is of the overall state of masters competition. Thats good to know.
I swim on a pretty strong team. Outside of the summer we usually have two lanes of 4-5 swimmers who can hold 100 on 1:10 SCY. Attendance is way down during the summer and, in fact, I'm the only person that ever competes long course on my team.
bcm119,
Jeff C. is fast. Now check out 56 year old Jim Mc Conica in the 500 free going 4:57 or better yet, 62 year old Rich Abrahams going 22.69 in the 50 free and 49.98 in the 100 free! That is fast!!
Glenn
I agree that LCM nationals are probably the least representative of the state of masters. I know here in the NW, there are very few LCM pools to swim in so it makes training difficult. Plus during the summer there is a stronger pull for swimmers to split between LCM competition, Open Water, and Tri's. And now with families vacations and other things distract from the pool.
Muppet,I'm sorry.I know how important .36 sec is. I didn't know if you wanted me to reference you or not. Also I think that time is damn fast.:notworthy:
If you want to see depth at a LCM meet check out the results at last years worlds.25-29 1:00.4 was 64th. Thats pretty good depth.
Allen, thanks for looking me up.
thats a 1:00.04, btw. :thhbbb:
oh so close.:dedhorse:
Muppet,I'm sorry.I know how important .36 sec is. I didn't know if you wanted me to reference you or not. Also I think that time is damn fast.:notworthy:
Allen - no worries for outing me! It was a great swim (PB). I've never broken the :60 barrier, and I thought that .04 up there was the funniest thing - brought a huge smile to my face.
Back to topic, thanks for bringing up these results. The 100 free is a great illustration of the depth of masters swimming, even at young ages. I like to think that of all the 80 some guys who swam the 100 in my age group at worlds, I was the only one w/o USAS/NCAA (or equiv) experience. Just goes to show what a little hard work can do (and what a lot of hard work can do too)!
Allen, thanks for looking me up.
thats a 1:00.04, btw. :thhbbb:
oh so close.:dedhorse:
Muppet, Cut yer hair for the .04 ;). I can talk my nickname was "Chewie" be glad I shave for zones.
NB to the OP: There are also a large number of us that cannot quite do those times but are just as competetive within our limitations, and to ourselves. That or we want to have the social and fun aspect of masters too. Either way get back in and let us know how you are doing!
