Why does it appear many masters swimmers are taking USMS so seriously?
What's the difference between the typical "selfish train all day", "it's all about me" triathlete and a masters swimmer who seriously trains as hard as they can.... particularly to focus on setting masters records?
Seems like there is a growing parallel between triathletes and many masters swimmers these days.
Isn't it just "masters swimming" for health and fun in the end?
Does a masters record really mean that much?
Is this a good thing? ..... or a turn off for those who look on with amusement.
Ah c'mon, let people have running obsessions. I had to put mine on ice (along with my foot but that's for another thread) due to an injury. Thank God for swimming, so I can maintain at least ONE obsession. ;)
I am quite slow as a swimmer, so I really can't speak of my times as competitive at all, and I have no illusions that I'll be setting records (except personal ones) any time soon.
I haven't the budget for a tech suit, so I can only fantasize about how such a suit would affect my swimming. Thing is, though, I have a lot to learn about swimming before a tech suit would really do much for my swimming. I've bought gadgets and high tech stuff for running when the opportunity and my budget allowed, and I don't begrudge anyone the enjoyment of whatever gear makes them happy. No doubt people could criticize my purchases too, so I can't judge what others buy for their sport.
When I do a workout or race, I definitely am competitive, and if there's someone close to my speed, I'm competitive with that person, but only during the workout/race. Afterward, we're cool.
Like the poster on page 3, I tend to be more suspicious when someone says "I'm not competitive." And I don't think that being competitive is just for the front of the pack. In a run I did a few years ago, I was having a very slow day, and found myself battling for second-last place with a woman who had run quite fast in her younger days but was close to seventy and also having a slow day. We didn't give each other an inch! She'd pass me, then I'd return the favor, then she would--all the way to the finish. We then enjoyed post-race snacks, conversation, catching up...and congratulated each other on putting up a good fight. We both knew we weren't contenders, but we saw no reason not to make a race of it between ourselves.
But no, I can't quit my day job to get sponsorship for running or (even less so) swimming. Oh, sponsors might pay me to wear their competitors' gear. (If only, ha ha!) ;)
But the reason I love to do masters' swimming (and, when my body is up for it, running workouts) is the thrill of the chase. Can I beat that guy who always gets me in the running workouts by a hair? Can I improve my 50s or 100s in swimming--not to break 1:30, just to break 2! I have no worries about impressing anyone, but it's still cool to see what I can do if I push myself in these venues. There's something so refreshing about the simplicity of seeing how fast one can move through water or on land without all the mucking up of daily life.
And no doubt I've had days where I get discouraged enough with my swimming to sound more obsessed than normal. But I don't have that many regrets. There are always more races.
Ah c'mon, let people have running obsessions. I had to put mine on ice (along with my foot but that's for another thread) due to an injury. Thank God for swimming, so I can maintain at least ONE obsession. ;)
I am quite slow as a swimmer, so I really can't speak of my times as competitive at all, and I have no illusions that I'll be setting records (except personal ones) any time soon.
I haven't the budget for a tech suit, so I can only fantasize about how such a suit would affect my swimming. Thing is, though, I have a lot to learn about swimming before a tech suit would really do much for my swimming. I've bought gadgets and high tech stuff for running when the opportunity and my budget allowed, and I don't begrudge anyone the enjoyment of whatever gear makes them happy. No doubt people could criticize my purchases too, so I can't judge what others buy for their sport.
When I do a workout or race, I definitely am competitive, and if there's someone close to my speed, I'm competitive with that person, but only during the workout/race. Afterward, we're cool.
Like the poster on page 3, I tend to be more suspicious when someone says "I'm not competitive." And I don't think that being competitive is just for the front of the pack. In a run I did a few years ago, I was having a very slow day, and found myself battling for second-last place with a woman who had run quite fast in her younger days but was close to seventy and also having a slow day. We didn't give each other an inch! She'd pass me, then I'd return the favor, then she would--all the way to the finish. We then enjoyed post-race snacks, conversation, catching up...and congratulated each other on putting up a good fight. We both knew we weren't contenders, but we saw no reason not to make a race of it between ourselves.
But no, I can't quit my day job to get sponsorship for running or (even less so) swimming. Oh, sponsors might pay me to wear their competitors' gear. (If only, ha ha!) ;)
But the reason I love to do masters' swimming (and, when my body is up for it, running workouts) is the thrill of the chase. Can I beat that guy who always gets me in the running workouts by a hair? Can I improve my 50s or 100s in swimming--not to break 1:30, just to break 2! I have no worries about impressing anyone, but it's still cool to see what I can do if I push myself in these venues. There's something so refreshing about the simplicity of seeing how fast one can move through water or on land without all the mucking up of daily life.
And no doubt I've had days where I get discouraged enough with my swimming to sound more obsessed than normal. But I don't have that many regrets. There are always more races.
