Shubert digs Masters Swimming

I completely admire true masters swimmers competing at the level they do. I think it's amazing, whether they're like you or Tall Paul and setting WRs or like Stud, kicking ass personally. OK I am definitely not in the elite swimmer catergory...or kicking much ass. Chris...not sure if your a "drinking man" but love to think someday we'll sit down, have to many beers....and you'll let your "hair down" and ditch all the math-stats/PC stuff and fire away with how you really feel! You got it. Oregon? Whomever has the biggest time drop from last year LCM gets a free beer...or three... OK, now, here the field levels a bit...it's about drive (who is going to get me home), guts (who can hold 'em), and endurance (I really need to pee!) Who wants it more?? Shame I'm not in Oregon!!!

Dara's accomplishments have always been impressive, but it's not particulary noteworthy that she's still performing at the level she did 20 years ago. Many of us USMS swimmers are not that far off what we were doing 20 years ago. But since those times weren't world records, nobody outside the USMS community cares. And the reason we are not going faster is that we put our relationships with our partners and children, and our careers if we have them, ahead of our pursuit of athletic glory. I'm not judging Dara. We all have to make our own choices. But I'm also not one bit jealous.

knelson is correct. What Dara is achieving has never been done in the sport. I would liken her accomplishments to those of Phelps or even better. ..... none of which is relevant to Masters swimming. The comparison is irrelevant. Masters swimmers don't swim to make the Olympic team. It's not the goal....... at least no realistically. John Smith

Schubert has always been an ass. vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../index.htm Mission Viejo's men swam well enough to give the Nadadores the overall team title even though some of the key women were ill. But several of the women were overweight and Schubert angrily banned Browne, Hooker and a couple of others until they had shed some pounds.

knelson is correct. What Dara is achieving has never been done in the sport. I would liken her accomplishments to those of Phelps or even better. John Smith But I think she is only swimming a little faster than she did in her prime. If we are comparing her to herself, and not the thousands that will never be as fast as she was/is, then it's not that astounding just because she is 41. With improvements in training techniques, stroke techniques, nutrition, etc. since the 1980s, there are plenty of folks 40+ (like yourself, GoodSmith) that could go as fast as they did 'back in the day' if they could spare eight hours a day for training, stretching, getting massages, etc.

But I think she is only swimming a little faster than she did in her prime. If we are comparing her to herself, and not the thousands that will never be as fast as she was/is, then it's not that astounding just because she is 41. With improvements in training techniques, stroke techniques, nutrition, etc. since the 1980s, there are plenty of folks 40+ (like yourself, GoodSmith) that could go as fast as they did 'back in the day' if they could spare eight hours a day for training, stretching, getting massages, etc. I must concur with Mr. Smith - there is NO WAY in hell that I will approach my best times from my "prime", even if I were to train full-time. My body is simply not what it was in my early 20s. A BlueSeventy Nero Comp, less yardage, etc may help me be at my 44+ best, but I think it is physiologically nearly impossible to achieve my earlier bests. I doubt whether I could even do it with creatine, HGH, etc, etc...