45 year old Olympic Hopeful

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

james lucas — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:40:42 GMT

It’s a fact that Carter is slow compared with world-class swimmers . But I don't see why that should color one's judgment of Carter's book. If Mark Spitz, the fastest swimmer of my generation, were to swim his best times, he would struggle to keep up with today’s top college swimmers, much less the Olympic swimmers. In fact, when it comes to swimming, sooner or later we’re all losers. And if only "winners" can stand up for swimming (and, in fairness, I’m slower than Carter, and by a lot), then this sport is destined for obscurity. This book seems to be accessible to swimmers and those not yet in the water. Past Olympics have inspired more people to get into the pool, and the release of this book is timed to help tap that wave of enthusiasm and show that, while a shot at the Olympic team may be out of reach, an hour in the pool is within reach and is worth pursuing. If it does that, then this book is a project worthy of applause.:applaud:

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:21:13 GMT

George, Susan probably wouldn't thank you for bringing her name into this discussion and because her sport involves firearms one would wish not to tick her off. Actually the shooting sports are yet another area bedeviled by the drug questions, in their case beta blockers for example.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:31:28 GMT

Canada has a 57 year old who is going to the Olympics. What is so strange about a 45 year old??? Her name is Susan Nattrass.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:12:13 GMT

I just finished this book. I found it humorous, brutally honest, entertaining, a nice light read. But in the end it was pretty unsatisfying. No doubt the outrageous goal of not just making a trials cut but making the team was a stunt, and not a bad one, since it gets our attention fast. And its apparent when reading it that he's really focusing on making the trials cut, which he didn't achieve in his 20s. What's great about the book was that he's described just about all the crazy ideas most of us have had at some point in our training & competing, and done it in a fun way. What's maddening is that the tone of the book is inconsistent. I'm sure he had a deadline, but he didn't have the guts to delay publication 'till after the outcome of his quest was determined. But how many readable books about master's swimming to we get to chose from?

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:56:02 GMT

He's not an Olympic hopeful. He's a guy trying to sell a book. I went to college with Hodding. He wasn't exceptionally fast then either. But he loves swimming...just like all of us who read these threads.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:17:04 GMT

Stopping the Clock. I like that title, has no-one used it yet?

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:54:04 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. This would be my book. :drink: :fish2: :oldman: :groovy:

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:29:49 GMT

Typo... Isn't that supposed to be "You're average, John Smith"??

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:30:01 GMT

There is this familiar scent, I cannot quite get a handle on it, I think it last appeared in a thread about Kevin Doak. All I know is that it stinks.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:58:51 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. Why is this interesting? I thought he used Mike Schmidt's workouts (as does Michael Ross). That's not training hard? Since I am slower than Carter (by a significant margin), with no top ten times (compared to his 14), I guess I have no business writing a book either. The publication of his book does not preclude someone else (Jim Thornton?) writing about other arguably more elite Masters swimmers. Perhaps he could call it Fountain of Youth or Stopping the Clock.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:21:56 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. Why is this interesting? Slow with respect to whom? :shakeshead:

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

The Fortress — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:55:40 GMT

Desperate Housewife, A Minivan Love Story - guess who Just so I don't have to be Susan! I'd also be happy to write "Securing Insurance Coverage For Your Ortho Bills"

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:47:23 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. Why is this interesting?

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:36:38 GMT

1 Doug Pride 45 MAINE-NE 25.69M 2 Hodding Carter 46 MAINE-NE 27.37 Not even the women's trials cut ......

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

knelson — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:12:04 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. Why is this interesting? In the 2007 FINA SCM rankings he's 2nd in the 50 fly, 3rd in the 100 free and 4th in the 40 free with a 24.50 (Paul Smith is first with a 24.29). You consider that slow, huh? If Susan von der Lippe, Paul Smith or Erik Hochstein wrote a book about their swimming experiences I'm sure I'd read it, too. The thing is they haven't...

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

mctrusty — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:18:39 GMT

So, this guy drinks a lot, doesn't train hard, and swims slow. Why is this interesting? See post #30 above. He wrote a lighthearted book about being an older swimmer, like many masters swimmers who have to be creative in how they work their training around their life. I'll probably pick up his book because I like to read and I think that it'll be entertaining and at least somewhat relevant to my life. It's not like Hemingway was ever a bullfighter, but nobody really faults him for his writing on the subject without his even being a matador.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

knelson — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:21:57 GMT

So where can I get copies of their books? Exactly. This is a tough crowd here. Obviously Hodding Carter even making Trials was a lofty goal, but can you fault the guy for trying? Maybe I'm misreading some people here, but I get the feeling some of you are sort of like "how dare he!" Well, the bottom line is he's the one who wrote a book about it and that's why he's getting the attention right now rather than other swimmers in their 40s with admittedly more accolades. I went to see his appearance tonight and he's a nice guy. He says he'll try to post here more. I'm not sure if he's ready for Geek or the Smiths :) He also mentioned he's heading to Austin soon to swim at Barton Springs with Keith Bell. I think Ande should try to swim with him while he's in town.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:52:34 GMT

news.yahoo.com/.../oly_swm_olympic_long_shot

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:12:24 GMT

Carter has no chance,but his book is about the best we've got on Masters Swimming so far(eagerly awaiting one of geeks books.) Have you read Staying With It by John Jerome? It's a good one about Masters swimming.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:43:14 GMT

Noodling - The Art of Staying Dry While Swimming Was this one written by SwimStud?

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Allen Stark — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:04:55 GMT

This weekend is the last chance for a 46 year old who can(hopefully) make trials cuts-GO DENNIS:cheerleader::cheerleader::cheerleader Carter has no chance,but his book is about the best we've got on Masters Swimming so far(eagerly awaiting one of geeks books.)

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:05:26 GMT

Actually Geek if the book is supposed to be about me it'll be titled something like..... "Your Average John Smith" by John Smith "Lost in a World of Mediocrity" by John Smith "The Most Irritating Man in the Pool" by John Smith "Don't Train, Just Swim the 50" by John Smith "Caffeine and Albuterol, A Masters Guide to Success" by John Smith The last two are quite comical, but that first one...it might actually be a title worth pursuing.

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:00:33 GMT

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Paul Smith — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:32:20 GMT

I've seen write up's about the book in the sports section of USA Today and the Arizona Republic. Some folks say that there is no "bad" press....and granted he's getting some attention on not just swimming but on masters swimming...I just don't know. Then again its all a joke....its sad because the reality is that the accomplishments of some of the swimmers in masters is truly worthy of recognition..you know the same one(s) that Swimming World didn't think was all that impressive in the last year. Part of the problem of being in an organization (USMS) that can't/won't promote or define itself is that others (like Hodding) end up doing it for you. The vast majority of people who know about swimming (either from age group, high school, college or fitness) think that A) swimming is for old ladies with flowered caps (yeah I know that describes Geek) or B) Fitness swimmers who think masters implies to fast for me to work out with ((S)he). But what the heck...sell some books make some $$$

RE: 45 year old Olympic Hopeful

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:29:35 GMT

Dang it, you beat me to it, that's what I get for starting my weekend drinking early. I was gonna offer the following titles: Noodling - The Art of Staying Dry While Swimming The Dark Side of Men's Swimming - Women - forward by Smith #1, main body by Smith #2 Free Latte's All Around, Gull Is in Town - by yours truly The 5 am Workout and Loss of Sex in a Marriage - anonymous :lmao: