As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...
Former Member
I swim a lot and really enjoy it. It's something I've done all of my life, growing up in Southern California, and it's my main form of exercise. I'm good at it, but I do it primarily for health and enjoyment.
I've noticed from lurking around this board for several years that there seems to be a very self-congratulatory, cliquish tone to many threads and posts. It seems like it's often a small group of people who post relentlessly, as if they are engaged in some sort of private conversation where they're trying to outdo each other.
Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. Maybe that's part and parcel of the world of "hardcore" competitive swimmers. Or maybe it's because there wouldn't be anything else to talk about, unless there weren't a constant focus on who's the "best" at this or that.
A race is something that happens once in a while, whereas a lifetime of swimming lasts, well, a lifetime. Yes, it's great to break a certain time in a certain race, but it's also great to have the self-discpline to keep at a daily swimming program and work on improving one's technique and endurance. Both are valid, and, to my mind, neither is more worthy of praise than the other.
Jim Thornton, if I recall correctly, noted a while ago that there were a lot of people lurking around the board and not really participating. If that is the case, I would propose that may be due to the general off-putting tone of things on here. (I won't give examples at this point, although I could.)
BTW, speaking only for myself, fitness/health is my main reason for swimming too. It's just that competition is a way to motivate me to be in better shape than otherwise. There is no question that I am fitter than I would be if I never swam in meets, though others obviously may differ in what motivates them to work out.
Agree 100%. Maybe I'm not self-motivated enough, but I find that, if I don't have some event to train for, my desire to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get a workout, dog walk, kids ready for school, etc. in before work wanes very quickly.
There is certainly a social aspect too; there are a lot of people I see at meets, or friends I've made, that I see nowhere else. And occasionally there is a blast from the past: I've unexpectedly come across old friends or teammates. At Worlds in 2006, I saw my swim coach from when I was a 14-year-old in Greece, which was pretty cool and totally a surprise.
It goes even beyond friends to family and even professional lives. Two examples:
My dad and I (he's 65, I'm 41) live on opposite sides of the country and both swim Masters. This year I've met him and my Mom in both Austin and New Jersey for swim meets. Hanging out with them over three days through 7 to 8 hour days at the pools, followed by dinner and more discussion is a TREAT I'm glad we're able to give each other.
Like Chris's example from Worlds in 2006, I was introduced via a swimming colleague to a guy who was in the market for a new role professionally. While I ultimately couldn't make the package from my company match the offer he had elsewhere, this is one person that I hope one day I'll be able to work with outside of the pool.
I've had a discussion going on with a fellow swim parent at my kids' team around this question, "Does swimming produce great people or are great people attracted to swimming?" At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter as the end result is the same.
From time to time, people might get cranky on the forums ... but isn't that true in real life, as well?
BTW, speaking only for myself, fitness/health is my main reason for swimming too. It's just that competition is a way to motivate me to be in better shape than otherwise. There is no question that I am fitter than I would be if I never swam in meets, though others obviously may differ in what motivates them to work out.
Agree 100%. Maybe I'm not self-motivated enough, but I find that, if I don't have some event to train for, my desire to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get a workout, dog walk, kids ready for school, etc. in before work wanes very quickly.
There is certainly a social aspect too; there are a lot of people I see at meets, or friends I've made, that I see nowhere else. And occasionally there is a blast from the past: I've unexpectedly come across old friends or teammates. At Worlds in 2006, I saw my swim coach from when I was a 14-year-old in Greece, which was pretty cool and totally a surprise.
It goes even beyond friends to family and even professional lives. Two examples:
My dad and I (he's 65, I'm 41) live on opposite sides of the country and both swim Masters. This year I've met him and my Mom in both Austin and New Jersey for swim meets. Hanging out with them over three days through 7 to 8 hour days at the pools, followed by dinner and more discussion is a TREAT I'm glad we're able to give each other.
Like Chris's example from Worlds in 2006, I was introduced via a swimming colleague to a guy who was in the market for a new role professionally. While I ultimately couldn't make the package from my company match the offer he had elsewhere, this is one person that I hope one day I'll be able to work with outside of the pool.
I've had a discussion going on with a fellow swim parent at my kids' team around this question, "Does swimming produce great people or are great people attracted to swimming?" At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter as the end result is the same.
From time to time, people might get cranky on the forums ... but isn't that true in real life, as well?
