I know I can't be the only person who is not at Nationals who is nevertheless keeping track of how many people in my age group are beating my best times of the season.
I am happy to report in this inaugural edition of Beat Watch 2009, that in the 400 IM, two guys have beaten my time--
1 Gilchrist, Donald 55 NCMS 4:55.00 4:41.09
29.32 1:01.98 (32.66)
1:39.57 (37.59) 2:16.63 (37.06)
2:56.44 (39.81) 3:36.93 (40.49)
4:09.45 (32.52) 4:41.09 (31.64)
2 Clemmons, Jim 59 MAM 4:44.50 4:43.38
29.59 1:02.58 (32.99)
1:41.09 (38.51) 2:18.06 (36.97)
2:58.68 (40.62) 3:40.31 (41.63)
4:12.70 (32.39) 4:43.38 (30.68)
The good news: both these fellows had ALREADY beaten me with swims earlier in the season, so nobody new at Nationals has thus far dislodged my precarious hold on a possible top 10 in this event...
I invite anyone to post their own "Beat Watch" results as they filter in...
Tom--in terms of women, I think that for those who are around 50-ish + now, most did not get the benefit of Title iX, and I do think that it is probably relatively easier to make the top 10 for them. However, Rob Butcher told me that 62 percent of the USMS swimmers now registered in the 20-29 age groups are women.
The competition in years to come will be increasingly brutal for the distaff gender.
Um, check our own poster Ahelee's time for the 400 IM, a national record:
1 Osborn, Ahelee Sue 51 MVN 5:12.02 4:56.39N
30.44 1:07.53 (37.09)
1:45.14 (37.61) 2:22.32 (37.18)
3:05.29 (42.97) 3:48.74 (43.45)
4:22.83 (34.09) 4:56.39 (33.56)
Maybe there aren't as many vying for Top Ten in the 50+ age groups for women, but there still sure are some fast times without the benefit of Title IX!
Sorry, but I am amazed by the 50+ women's top times so far at this meet.
Very very inspiring.
Probably my main problem is that I am an acoustic swimmer. The pauses in the acoustic songs represent my small pauses at the wall for air...
Maybe if I keep training hard until I am 80, and start listening to Metallica or AC/DC or, why not, Talking Heads . . .
Tom--in terms of women, I think that for those who are around 50-ish + now, most did not get the benefit of Title iX, and I do think that it is probably relatively easier to make the top 10 for them. However, Rob Butcher told me that 62 percent of the USMS swimmers now registered in the 20-29 age groups are women.
The competition in years to come will be increasingly brutal for the distaff gender.
Um, check our own poster Ahelee's time for the 400 IM, a national record:
1 Osborn, Ahelee Sue 51 MVN 5:12.02 4:56.39N
30.44 1:07.53 (37.09)
1:45.14 (37.61) 2:22.32 (37.18)
3:05.29 (42.97) 3:48.74 (43.45)
4:22.83 (34.09) 4:56.39 (33.56)
Maybe there aren't as many vying for Top Ten in the 50+ age groups for women, but there still sure are some fast times without the benefit of Title IX!
Sorry, but I am amazed by the 50+ women's top times so far at this meet.
Very very inspiring.
Probably my main problem is that I am an acoustic swimmer. The pauses in the acoustic songs represent my small pauses at the wall for air...
Maybe if I keep training hard until I am 80, and start listening to Metallica or AC/DC or, why not, Talking Heads . . .
