Fitness and Lap Swimmers - You out there?

Oh man, you guys are ruining my empty pool buzz. There is a pool I swim in out of town that I LOVE because it is beautiful and deserted. Last time the lifeguard got in and swan laps with me, she was so bored. I love that pool. My coach enjoys the heck out of coaching Masters. He is very tired of kids with pushy parents. Masters is like Nirvana to him. He doesn't recruit swimmers. He holds six scheduled practices a week, but I think it is still very hard for many working adults with kids to make a practice. Ahelee, referencing your comments, why does SWIMMER have such a focus on competition swimming if 70% of the readers don't compete, and the advertisers are after that 70%, in addition to the noncompeting swimming friends of the 70%? How do they see that?

I guess I kind of fit this description as I swim mainly by myself. No teams close by that actually compete. I joined USMS a little over a year ago because an old friend talked me into swimming at LC Nats. Since SC Nats. were also in TX, I "trained" for them too. Aside from those meets and one other in my area, I haven't really competed much. I swam competitively for years but have been training mostly to stay in shape since college. Have to say, it was really a blast to compete again (though I was a little nervous about starting off the blocks after so many years). I also coach a lap-swim class once a week. Great group of swimmers. We just had our first "mock meet" and some of them got really into it. Perhaps they'll join the USMS ranks sometime this year. If not, they are really enjoying swimming for fitness.

Ahelee, referencing your comments, why does SWIMMER have such a focus on competition swimming if 70% of the readers don't compete, and the advertisers are after that 70%, in addition to the noncompeting swimming friends of the 70%? How do they see that? That is a SUPER EXCELLENT question! Perhaps Bill Volckening can provide some insight. I can say that similar to this forum, the most vocal readers are probably the competitive athletes. They are pretty demanding about expected editorial and critical of redundant novice "how to" information. Some of these athletes who live a balanced life - and regularly swim, provide inspirational stories for readers trying to figure out how to fit it all in. When I worked on the magazine, it was owned by Rodale. They also publish Runners World, Bicycling, Backpacker, Men's Health, etc. I think this company does an amazing job of providing info for those readers new to the sport and novice in ability. As for advertisers, many do not utilize the space to reach the market they seek it is true. Whose fault? The big swimwear companies often utilize their sponsored elite athletes in their ad photography. Beside the fact that print advertising alone is perhaps not the best use of marketing/advertising dollars, our publication needs to grow in its distribution numbers to attract the big advertisers. Also build opportunities for other types of marketing via masters events and media. I believe we are going to see these circulation numbers grow quickly in the upcoming few years. But for now, SWIMMER reaches a relatively niche market for advertisers. All that said really to answer the question with; Fitness and Lap Swimmers need to speak up - and loudly, making their needs known to the editor and staff of the magazine so that they are heard. I've seen many a plea and request from Editor Bill Volckening for story ideas and submissions. No locker room or forum chit chat. Make it happen!

(Joke! Please don't hurt me Fortress! Please! Ouch!! Ouch!! OK, OK, Ouch!!) I know it's hard to believe, Mookie, but I train almost entirely on my own and am friendly with all noodlers and lap swimmers at my rec pool. If Ahelee is giving out advice, better listen up! She's amazing! :bow:

I also coach a lap-swim class once a week. Great group of swimmers. We just had our first "mock meet" and some of them got really into it. Perhaps they'll join the USMS ranks sometime this year. If not, they are really enjoying swimming for fitness. In our workout group, there is a mix of swimmers: about half of them don't compete (or maybe do so only occasionally, restricting themselves to our "home" meet for its convenience). What I find interesting is this. During much of the year, our coach gives intense "test sets" about once a week, where we do repeats off the blocks with lots of rest, and he records the time and calculates the average. This always seemed pretty "hard core" to me, and they are exhausting...but the fitness swimmers do them too. Of course, the coach doesn't really give them a choice, but no one forces them to come to practice. (In fact, membership to the masters group entitles them to swim laps at the pool on their own.) I think they like actually doing race-like activities, and since Mark records their average, they can track their progress as they improve. My larger point is that the line between competitive and "fitness" swimming (I don't really like that label) is sometimes blurred, particularly when it comes to what workouts are suitable for which group.

My larger point is that the line between competitive and "fitness" swimming (I don't really like that label) is sometimes blurred, particularly when it comes to what workouts are suitable for which group. I (often with Laura) coach on a fairly regular basis...in fact just finished a "hell week" which I posted all the workouts on this site. The group has a couple of folks who compete in swim meets (Patrick who's laying around getting fat & last Saturday Dickson showed up) but the vast majority are "fitness" swimmers and triathletes. This past week's workouts had a LOT of stroke work including one day with 6 x 400IM's (we broke them up) and I'm proud to say that the "fitness" crowd actually did all of the workouts...and even commented on how they rarely get a chance to do a lot of stroke work and really enjoyed it. My point being that Chris nails it...whether you "compete" or not the best way to improve ones fitness level is to particpate in workouts that vary your routine, up the intensity and ideally offer feedback on improving technique.

Wait, i'm confused ... are we talking USMS members who consider themselves lap/fitness swimmers, or just any lap swimmer. I think there might be a difference there, maybe.

What he said, only my times are less exciting than his. But your flip turns make up for it! :lmao:

In our workout group, there is a mix of swimmers: about half of them don't compete ... That's a great percentage of people competing ... The group has a couple of folks who compete in swim meets. This is very true. The VAST majority of people who train up at Cactus pool here in Scottsdale (probably ~70 or more over the course of the week?) do not compete ... less than 10%. That doesn't mean the other 90% are not competitive. Many of us "meet competitors" will get beat in workout by the people ostensibly only there for "fitness." We all swim to improve and maintain our level of fitness. Some of us also choose to compete for a variety of reasons. Knowing that I have an upcoming meet helps motivate me to get out of bed at 4:30 in the morning and put forth some effort in the pool. My primary goal is fitness, far, far ahead of competition. My family history is littered with elevated to high blood pressure, I work in a fairly high pressure job with consistent cross-country & global travel, and have seen out-of-shape colleagues/bosses die or nearly die too young. Having competition to train for keeps me going. ... Patrick who's laying around getting fat ... I'm back at it ... and only put on 5 lbs during my week off. (It was a gooood week).

I'm a fitness swimmer. I've wanted to join Master's since I learned to swim 2 years ago but I have a stubborn shoulder problem that leaves me only able to swim breaststroke and do kicksets. So I swim breaststroke and do kicksets and feel pretty happy that I can even do that. I don't worry about competition. I don't have much drive for or interest in speed, so while I check in here, I don't participate much because I'm just not on the same page as most posters here. Plus I have an ambivalent relationship with the internet anyhow...