2008 Santa Clara International Invitational May 15 - 18

Thanks! Pretty hard times there..

How many Masters swimmers train like this ? Dennis Baker, maybe? Erik, what's the big deal? (Is it the web site?) Kevin's young and can do this now; once he gets a family, things will change obviously. I know a lot of (amateur) triathletes who are similarly obsessed...maybe not 6-7 hours a day but 3-4 hours a day is not at all unusual for iron man training. I know a guy who is 61 who does this (and he's an amazing athlete, routinely beating gifted athletes who are 20 years younger). Good job at nationals, by the way, not looking forward to welcoming you to the 40-44 age group!

Kevin, spend some more time around this site and any of us and you'll quickly figure out that everything is fair game and ANY sign of an inflated ego is grounds for an immediate all out assault...it's not meant to be personal but guess I can see how you may take it as such. But in the spirit of this being masters, none (most) of us don't take any of it home...except for Geek because we keep reminding him of how much his piece of crap tri-bike with the trainer wheels and porn seat cost...but doesn't seem to help him ride any faster.

My rule of thumb for Masters swimming is 5 years or 50 lbs -- 5 years since swimming USS meets or gaining 50 pounds -- or both ... Ew. Gross. I know you're joking, but that doesn't describe many masters swimmers I know. I think you can set the bar a little higher for us masters! Besides, as you know, some of us occasionally compete in USS meets even though we are of an unseemly age. Kevin, I glanced at your blog, www.kevindoak.com/blog.html. I'm a supporter, but your comments are dead wrong. There are plenty of masters swimmers in their 20s competing and welcome at all meets. Some of them are scary fast. No one is "unwelcome" if they are "faster than average." Huh? It's comments like those (and the promo back shot) that will keep Tall Paul on your case! In addition, many masters swimmers are either single or do not have families. Families are not a requirement for being a masters swimmer; they just tend to make it more difficult and stressful to train and compete often. And we all tend to go gaga over masters who succeed despite the demands on their time. Don't take things so seriously. There's a lot of smack talk and banter on the forum.

"Lately I've been swimming about 4 hours a day in addition to dryland (plyometrics) and weight training, so around 5-6 hours a day total. I swim approximately 7,000-10,000 Long Course Meters a day, 6-7 days a week." How many Masters swimmers train like this ? My rule of thumb for Masters swimming is 5 years or 50 lbs -- 5 years since swimming USS meets or gaining 50 pounds -- or both ...

You guys crack me up. You're not losing sleep over this are you? Let me see if I can recap: You have somebody (me) who is openly proud to be part of USMS, and frequently credits as the reason for their moderate success. I implied that the fact that I couldn't get a world record at a USA meet was a silly rule (oh no!). I have a website to keep my friends and family informed on my progress of a sport I love, which Skip, who is my friend linked you to in this forum. If that sums it up, then I don't really understand the issue.

Apparently you train too much and swim too fast to be a member of USMS. :dunno:

For me it's the amazing shot of Kevin's back muscles that I just can not get out of my mind. Plus I am really disappointed that we don't have more Masters swimmers with their own website. Of course, I think belly shots and pictures would be a lot more telling in terms of training and conditioning. By the way - Paul Carter and Michael Ross are entered at Santa Clara -- the meet is just silly fast. 25 people listed under 50 seconds ....

And just remember one thing........Those of you that think you know everything always just piss off those of us that do!!!!!:lmao::lmao:

There's plenty of 25 - 29 year olds who obliterate the backstroke times he's done, they just don't swim masters let's see how he does 20 years from now ehoch you're an awesome masters swimmer I don't really get his web site. I mean what is the goal here.... Masters World Record Holder or the real thing..... i.e. USA Swimming and/or Trials? John Smith