Is it my imagination or is the smarter gender under represented in masters swimming. I would like to get some real numbers to confirm my observations. Forumites like Rick Osterberg, can you give some data about the ratio of men to women at USMS meets? Perhaps we could break it down by age group (I can hear the CPUs humming at Chris Stevenson's place all the way from up here in Mass).
If women are under represented, then I would like to discuss the causes of the imbalance and begin to work on improving the ratio.
I'm also inclined to believe that parenthood has a lot to do with it. Several teammates and colleagues of mine have significantly cut back on their swimming/competing as a result of having kids. It's much easier to push a stroller while running or pull a kid on a bike trailer than to find child care while you're in the pool. Plus it takes longer to get in a swim workout than it does to go on a quick run, ride, or drop in for a fitness class (and fitness centers may have childcare).
Also, in the business world, I've seen research showing how women often wait longer than men to go for stretch jobs because they don't have the self-confidence that they are ready. Perhaps this translates into their thoughts about entering into meets and thinking they're not good enough to compete.
I would agree with Fort, living with a Fort-esque person myself. And, I think men don't suffer with the guilt like the women do, it's certainly no problem for me to abandon my family without remorse.
I'll 2nd Fort. If I didn't have the opportunity to practice at 4:30am, I don't know when I'd be able to practice. I select my meets based on when I feel like I can make my husband be alone with our 4 year old for the day. Some times, during a 2-day meet, this means I don't swim both days or I don't swim all my events, etc.
eta: Fort, mini-me is almost three and seems to be doing a great job with ungrateful and selfish already - please tell me they go back to being cute and sweet for awhile before ungrateful and selfish comes back full force.
One of my kids was such a disaster at 3 that I wondered why I bothered to procreate ... However, she went back to being cute and lovable. The worst of it comes when they are teenagers. Of course, they spend so much time ignoring you in pursuit of their social life and selfish needs that you then have MUCH more time to ponder your own athletic endeavors!
LOL. Sad, but so TRUE! That and the now-seemingly-required "helicopter parenting..."
All I can say is mommy guilt seems to abate somewhat as the years pass. As does the urge to engage in helicopter parenting type behavior. The latter is only counter-productive for your kids anyway (I think) because they are then less independent and less creative.
All I can say is mommy guilt seems to abate somewhat as the years pass. As does the urge to engage in helicopter parenting type behavior. The latter is only counter-productive for your kids anyway (I think) because they are then less independent and less creative.
That's a relief! I don't know when I'd swim if I didn't do the early morning/ before anyone is even awake thing either. I don't want to helicopter parent but the pressure to do so is sure annoying. As a part-time coach, it's annoying as well. Good god, you'd think that it's the end of the world if every kid doesn't get to swim every event they want to every single week. Sheesh...
If women are under represented, then I would like to discuss the causes of the imbalance and begin to work on improving the ratio.
That may be a hard statistic to pin down.
Maybe there's an equal, if not greater number of female usms members, but they chose not to compete.
Our local masters team has twice as many ladies in the pool than men. Yet only 1 or 2 of the women attend the meets on a regular basis.
Maybe women are in this for the fitness aspect more than they are for the competition?
Mommy guilt.
:agree: . . . and for some, swimsuit anxiety. I would have no problem hopping in the pool and heading off to meets if I were in better shape. For now though, I am plugging away at dropping pounds and regaining some strength in hopes of being back in "meet shape" next year.
eta: Fort, mini-me is almost three and seems to be doing a great job with ungrateful and selfish already - please tell me they go back to being cute and sweet for awhile before ungrateful and selfish comes back full force.
