Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:10:18 GMT

I look forward to my first meet. Not sure when that will be but I will certainly let you all know. Thanks for all the input everyone Katie

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

FindingMyInnerFish — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:40:29 GMT

Cross country. Although, you're not quite as nekkid, you can't hear anything, there is no black line to follow so getting lost is always possible; you can't count laps so you have to feel your distance, and you never know where the finish is until you can finally see it; The race changes based on weather. Lap swimmers are in optimal conditions. X-Country can change during the race. There is wind, rain, hills, mud, sand, water and contact from other competitors. I'd see more broken bones at a X-Country meet than a football game. And lastly, (I loved to say this to the "ball" players) My sport is your sport's punishment! Honestly, I don't think you can compare them because the technical skill of swimming is so much bigger a part of the sport. Especially if you compare Sprints (running) to swimming; no skill at all. You either have fast twitch or you don't. Its all genetics. Yeah, I enjoy that saying, "my sport is your sport's punishment"--another one that I've seen adapted to running, swimming, and rowing is "Athletes . Others just play games." :D But Allen Stark has it right... whatever gets ya movin'! In fact, gotta get movin' right now... to catch a quick swim before the pool closes... Knee yelled at me today when I attempted a long run, and I'm so grateful now to have two sports to enjoy and (albeit slowly) compete in!

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Midas — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:21:54 GMT

What I was driving at was is nothing wrong with enhancing (aggrandizing) oneself's power, strength, or knowledge. That's what I thought you were driving at too, and I completely agree with you.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Allen Stark — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:59:12 GMT

I think any athlete who pursues any sport(or stroke for that matter) is worthy of respect.Even though I curse them under my breath when they mess up my swim, I even respect noodlers as they are being active and many are doing the most exercise they can tolerate,and thats much better than being a couch potato. I love to compete.It gives me something to build my workouts around.If I didn't compete I'd probably swim a mile 3-4 days a week and that would be it,except I'd skip more workouts probably.I know people can measure their progress/regress many ways;pounds,inches,ability to complete a set,etc. but for me the best measurement is how I do at my taper meet.:groovy::groovy:

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:37:49 GMT

Fort I agree with you. I love to compete. It gives me something to work for in practice. If I didn't look forward to meets, I wouldn't be in the water as much. Shark you are right too. When I was coaching the high school wrestling coach would bring in a couple wrestlers to help with conditioning. They quickly found a new appreciation for swimmers and could not wait to get back to the mat.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:26:38 GMT

Fort, Someone is literally plagiarizing from American Heritage Dictionary: self-aggrandizement: noun: The act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one's own importance, power, or reputation Don't sweat it -- most of us get your desire to compete. I'm not sure what he's driving at. :dunno: Nothing wrong here at all. Carry on:bighug: Mark What makes you think I would use it for "exaggeration?" I'm not sure I even understand what that means in this context. I just flat out like to compete in meets, and I do it damn seldomly. I think they're fun. I like to race. And I can't train without them. I don't begrudge fitness swimmers. I applaud their efforts. But I think they or others should not criticize my desire to compete.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:26:20 GMT

Fort I hear you. I wish I could compete more, not because I am any good, but because I enjoy it and it helps to have a goal to train for. I keep telling myself to be patient and that in 4 years the last one skips off to college and maybe my time will be my own(although my money probably will not be). Dorothy we all eagerly await your 48 US states swim meet tour in 2011! ;)

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:23:27 GMT

Swimmers are the most dedicated individuals to their sport. I argue this point all the time to "other sport" coaches. Noone goes through as much as swimmers do. Name another sport that does it pretty much deaf, half blind and almost nekked. Some will never know, others will never see. - Ray Bussard

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:35:14 GMT

Remember it is not self-aggrandizing or selfish to want to compete in meets and have fun. There's nothing wrong with self aggrandizement--when used in the sense of enhancement, rather than exaggeration.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:22:57 GMT

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:08:38 GMT

swimminlyn Yes softball makes you sore but I am sure the food and perhaps the beer or booze does not help either LOL. It is great that you do both. Dorothy . You have done so well with your weightloss and inches lost. That is awesome. I am starting really hard with the food on Monday. I am excited. I put on a shirt today that I bought about 6 weeks ago and have not worn. It is much looser in the back area. SO THAT IS GOOD THING. I know that both food and exericise are important. I am looking forward to incorporating both now. It is time to just do it. Thanks for the encouragement. Dont you hate that you never lose where you really need to first LOL Katie

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:01:43 GMT

Katie you are right about me going to softball. I played in a tournament not to long ago and did very well the first 2 games, but the last 2 games were a little slower and I was extremely sore the next day. But this year I have only played maybe 20 games. Last year I play around 200. I was gone almost every weekend and played 4 nights a week. Softball was alot easier to do but harder on the body and I gain so much weight. I will take the pleasure I get from a painful swim practice over softball any day.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:47:10 GMT

Exactly it makes me laugh. I work in a jail so the boys in their Correctional Officer Uniforms look all toned and tough in their shirts with their arms showing. But if you see them in shorts they look kind of hilarious looking. They also seem to lack cardio as well. As my g/f and I do cardio and weights they just do the weights. To each his own I guess. Katie

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:44:33 GMT

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:41:28 GMT

34 is toooooooooooooooo OLD to SWIM:rofl:. WOW I am 41. I wonder how I even manage to get up at all :cane:. GEESH people kill me. I had to laugh as there are a lot of smokers at my work place to. They are the ones who cannot believe I am doing this either. It makes you wonder as they are smoking with an extra large triple triple coffee in hand. You should get one of your softball friends to come to one of your practices and you go to one of theirs LOL LOL. I am betting you will be MUCH better at softball than they are at swimming. Cheers Katie

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:35:30 GMT

My favorite thing to here is... Why do you swim so much, aren't you too old to be doing that? Isn't it time you gave up competing? I just look at them like they are stupid and tell them to say that to the 70, 80 and 90+ men and women that still do it. At 34 I am young in the world of master swimming. My other favorite that I have heard from non swimmer, mostly my softball friends is... Why do you swim? It is not a REAL sport. I just look at them stupid too and say, And slow pitch softball is? Where any over weight drunk man or woman with a cigarette hanging out of his/her mouth between every inning qualifies that as a sport. I have pretty much given up defending the sport I love and have since I was little. It all comes down to them that diet and still gain weight and I can out eat them and I am loosing weight. Now whos sport is better?

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

aquageek — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:44:45 GMT

I've always found it interesting that other sports will come to swimming practice but swimmers will never go to their practice. Probably because swimmers are kind of goofy out of the water. Then again, I never wanted to go to a wresting or football practice for fear of immediate death.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

dorothyrde — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:31:25 GMT

Dorothy we all eagerly await your 48 US states swim meet tour in 2011! ;):lmao: Unfortunately, that would cost money, and the cost of college.....although the second kid has a full 529, did not get that soon enough on the first one.

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

The Fortress — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:29:41 GMT

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

dorothyrde — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:13:54 GMT

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

The Fortress — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:10:07 GMT

There's nothing wrong with self aggrandizement--when used in the sense of enhancement, rather than exaggeration. What makes you think I would use it for "exaggeration?" I'm not sure I even understand what that means in this context. I just flat out like to compete in meets, and I do it damn seldomly. I think they're fun. I like to race. And I can't train without them. I don't begrudge fitness swimmers. I applaud their efforts. But I think they or others should not criticize my desire to compete. You appear to be picking a philosophical fight for some reason, whoever you are. Pffftttt....

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

Former Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:05:13 GMT

The weightlifting issue with woman is interesting. I have lifted weights for several years. I work in a male dominated workplace and we have a workout room which is awesome. It has some cardio machines and tons of weights. NOTHING FOR LEGS mind you :doh:. The boys all want to look good up top and dont seem to care about their legs too much.GEESH. I am a large boned woman at 5 10 ( huge shoulders) I am toned but overweight. I know underneath the flab is some great muscles. I have definition in my biceps and triceps. I think swimming will really help with that as my arms are often tired after a workout. Toned woman look fabulous. Weight training is so important for our bone health as well. Now that I am swimming in the morning instead of the gym I have only been hitting the weights 1x a week so I am going to have to change that up somehow. I am just so darn tired LOL LOL Scwids, good point about people thinking others are crazy. You triathaletes are crazy in my mind:wave:. So I guess you are right. Perhaps the best thing to do is not worry about what anyone else says and just worry about what we think as individuals. Cheers Katie I need :coffee::coffee::coffee:

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

pwolf66 — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:52:47 GMT

I actually hit harder now than I used to before I swam. I think the upper body muscles are stronger and that has translated to better hitting. I hear you. Just in the 4 weeks since I started swimming, I have noticed that my golf game has improved. I'm now a bit more accurate and about 5-6 yards longer now than I was a month ago. It's all about strengthening that core. Paul

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

dorothyrde — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:00:37 GMT

I actually hit harder now than I used to before I swam. I think the upper body muscles are stronger and that has translated to better hitting. Before I had to really rely on sprint speed to get base hits! Of course now the only time I play is with the girls I coach. And yes, coverage is good for the belly, one piece swim suits have always been a must for me! I have lost 3 inches on my waist since July, so I am shrinking!

RE: Why non swimmers think their opinions matter?!

The Fortress — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:34:08 GMT

Fortress... My first time out this year I felt like I had to learn to run all of again. The jogging wasn't bad but my legs were a little wobbly the 1st fly ball I had to chase down. Then there was trying to throw the softball. Now that was a site. Trying to get the follow through and not release the ball above my head like my are was trying to enter the water on a freestyle stroke. I have since put away my bat bag and am getting ready for a fun winter season of swimming. My 1st meet in is 2.5 weeks in Indianapolis. It takes awhile for your legs to adapt to running. When I lay off the running during a taper or something and then start back, I have the total plods for awhile. But then it gets better. Running is a good endorphin boost and cross training for me. Good luck at your meet!! Remember it is not self-aggrandizing or selfish to want to compete in meets and have fun. But so many just don't get that. Pfftttt..... to them.