You know, I've heard a few people say, "this is only masters, it's no big deal."
Yet, as I meet more people I learn about stories of people enjoying the sport, and the years of dedication they've given to swimming. 60+ years old, still healthy, still strong, going 32 for 50 fly... ???!!
Being fast at 20, great, way to go.... Try a lifetime of dedication, that's even greater.
There's a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness
actually I think it's great to have a lifetime of health and fitness
that's what the habit consistent swimming does
ofter seeing my own family members fail to take care of themselves and suffer, it's great to be part of the masters swimming family and be friends with those who are strong, fit, healthy, happy, capable of remarkable swimming feats, encouraging, inspiring and passionately pursuing their dreams and goals. Swimming doesn't make us immune to health problems but
it's a great way to thrive.
which is what this song is about:
www.songramp.com/.../viewprivtrack.php
In the scheme of life is swimming as important or more important than my family or friends? Of course not. (Though some of them may argue) I work hard and want to swim fast at meets. I definitely obsess about it more than I should. If we didn't care we wouldn't spend hundreds on fancy suits. We wouldn't taper and we wouldn't train our arses off. I do realize that if I don't swim fast the world will keep spinning and life will continue on.
Mr. Fort describes masters swimming as an "obsessive subculture."
True, true...but compared to my triathlete friends who compete in Iron Man events, we swimmers look pretty well adjusted.
I don't ride as much anymore, but I have many experiences like the following: I was riding with a group and -- no lie -- the person next to me talked for 30 minutes about possible feeding strategies in his upcoming race. What to eat, when to eat it, how much to eat, possible hydration methods, on and on and on. He's a very nice guy, but listening to that conversation brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "endurance athlete."
Whenever I'm on a ride that's a little too quiet -- indicating that people might start to pick up the pace to a level uncomfortable for me -- all I have to do is mention some particular item of clothing or gear or food and then everyone starts talking about it. Crisis averted!
True, true...but compared to my triathlete friends who compete in Iron Man events, we swimmers look pretty well adjusted.
This is the complete truth. Swimmers may be obsessive but obsessive is quite a scale. Serious bikers and runners are looney tunes compared to us.
Does master swimming really prolong life?
Does it help us enjoy life more?
Does swimming 50 crawl or doing 32 for 50 fly at 60+ mean anything?
I'm not convinced about the first one but believe 'yes' to the second and third ones.
As far as the length of life is concerned, I'm probably stuck with what my genes will deliver at the upper end. I can certainly devise ways to shorten that lifespan and swimming is probably NOT one of those. What I'm looking forward to is compressed morbidity: that is, live a healthy life for as long as I live and, then, just drop dead (preferably after setting a world record in the breaststroke - but the dangers of that stroke are well known here on this Forum). I don't want to drag out the death process and that's why I swim (Well, no, it really is the other things about swimming that motivate me - I probably wouldn't do it if I didn't like it. No point in lying.).
Masters athletics IS my life now (shared by my wife of 43 years in all aspects). I've had an interesting career that kept me from having to work at a REAL job, obtained millions of dollars in federal grants, raised a family, run a private business, volunteered to coach youth and master's soccer and swimming, built my house with my own hands, rebuilt a car engine. learned to speak a couple of foreign languages etc etc.
No, it is not JUST masters swimming. If I want to train 20 hours per week (sorry John Smith) why shouldn't I? It's a really big deal to me!
How about the side effects of swimming such as:
1- Sailing in a small kayak (with a tendency to capsize) in a lake knowing that if you have to you may ditch the darn boat and SWIM back to the shore. However I still wear life jackets...
2- Snorkeling all over any beach, near reefs and so forth, because you can swim there, you can swim forever with snorkels, mask and fins.
3- Going for a 2 mile swim in a fairly current free beach, when every body else is jogging or doing other stuff. Later people will ask you how you can swim so far, and you don't explain to them that swimming in the ocean is sooooooo easy. Oh, also, if the current doesn't take you away, you can swim long and far using that stroke made to last forever and for resting: da breastroke!
That being said (and true), however never forget the story of Mr. X, an elite Champion Masters swimmer who was lounging on a beach in Southern France one day when he saw a beautiful woman, walk (undulate) down to the water and dive smoothly in. He thought to himself, "Great. She looks good swimming and I'm sure that I'll impress her with my swimming."
So, in he goes and starts swimming towards her, she smiles coyly and swims away. He increases his stroke rate to catch up with her, she speeds away. He really turns his power on but she easily outdistances him. After half an hour of being unable to catch up with her, he swims back to the beach and as he's panting, trying to catch his breath, she comes out of the water.
"Excuse me miss," he manages to say. "I'm a Champion swimmer but you are by far better. Where and how did you learn to swim like that?"
"Well, signore," she replies, "I used to work the streets in Venice, Italy, for a few years."
I think there's a much better realization in Masters (as compared to high school, college, and USS) that it's only swimming. Nationals is a good example of this. Why are so many of us going to Austin? Yes, we want to swim fast against the fastest swimmers. But I wouldn't be going if it weren't such a social occasion. The whole fast swimming thing is secondary to a weekend with my friends on the team and a chance to meet you guys.
Maybe not everyone feels that way, but it can be a completely foreign attitude in "serious" swimming. A friend of mine used to swim for Stanford, and at big meets Skip wouldn't let his swimmers talk to anybody outside the team, including friends and family. Skip's philosophy was apparently that a swim meet is a war, and in a war you have to be focused on destroying the enemy.
My most urgent desire. This desire involves swimming, biking, walking. and Margaritas. Chuckie has had her two medical things taken care of eye and knee. Her broken wrist is good also.
I have a little business to do. And on the 5th of May (Cinco De Mayo), we are going to start our 3200 mile back to Melaque Mexico.
This is were my heart belongs and where I can, swim, bike and not run but walk.
