On the recent broadcast of www.deckpass.com there was some interesting dialogue on age group swimming, Gary Hall Jr, and yes my hero, Jack LaLanne...
Okay... not to digress, but... Sullivan's breakthrough was from technical improvement, not an increase in power output... just an observation.
Jack LaLanne is my hero...
If you swim for fun, you'll always be a winner! Keeping the focus on personal improvement is a great way to hold the "passion" without making comparisons to others. That concept of winning, only being the absolute freaky best, that concept is dysfunctional. If you are in the water regularly, you'll always be a winner; you can feel great about what you are doing.
Swimming is a unique experience, and mastering the water is a joy.
I'm a mediocre-kinda-occasionally-fast-in-a-few-events kind of Masters swimmer. I never swam NCAA. I won't contend for any world records. But I am swimming Nationals. What should my goals be?
I swam at USMS SCY nationals when my team hosted it, I think it was 2002 or 2003. Anyway, my goal was to swim my best, and enjoy the whole experience of a national event. It is so rare that an event of that magnitude is so convenient, that I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity. And I wasn't the slowest in my age group in the events I did.
That said, I kind of agree with abc. I certainly wouldn't travel a distance for just a swim meet, unless I could at least qualify for some events. I'm nowhere near any records, top 10 times, etc. I never swam on an organized team before I joined a masters swimming group. Even if I gave up my job and devoted all my time to swimming and working out I don't think I'd come close to any records. So I enjoy the experience of swimming with a team in a coached environment, certainly getting the physical benefits, and certainly great stress relief from the daily grind.
I'm a mediocre-kinda-occasionally-fast-in-a-few-events kind of Masters swimmer. I never swam NCAA. I won't contend for any world records. But I am swimming Nationals. What should my goals be?
I swam at USMS SCY nationals when my team hosted it, I think it was 2002 or 2003. Anyway, my goal was to swim my best, and enjoy the whole experience of a national event. It is so rare that an event of that magnitude is so convenient, that I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity. And I wasn't the slowest in my age group in the events I did.
That said, I kind of agree with abc. I certainly wouldn't travel a distance for just a swim meet, unless I could at least qualify for some events. I'm nowhere near any records, top 10 times, etc. I never swam on an organized team before I joined a masters swimming group. Even if I gave up my job and devoted all my time to swimming and working out I don't think I'd come close to any records. So I enjoy the experience of swimming with a team in a coached environment, certainly getting the physical benefits, and certainly great stress relief from the daily grind.
