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.
Parents
Former Member
A little late to the game here, and not all the way through the thread, but this jumped out at me:
Most would enjoy working out and racing for fun, but most don't feel it's "real" competition compared to their previous experience. Sometimes they are amused by what they see.Wow, what an incredibly elitist attitude. I doubt "most" think that, and I would venture to guess there are quite a few who would be horrified to know you are representing them this way.
For those who are that arrogant:
Some of us didn't have the opportunity for "real competition" in our younger days. I swam on a school team from 7-12th grade and loved it, but there were no age group opportunities where I lived. Because of finances and housing issues I landed at a college without a swim team. All my workouts there came from phone calls to my high school coach. My parents thought swimming, and all my other athletic endeavors, were irritating and expensive time sucks, so I didn't push the issue as much as I would've liked.
Now I am (mostly) in control of my own schedule, have a spouse that understands my competitive nature, and the finances to go where I need to go to get the training I want. I don't see what's so wrong about that. :dunno:
Should I continue to be penalized for not having better opportunities available to me in my youth, just to pacify the egos of those who did?
A little late to the game here, and not all the way through the thread, but this jumped out at me:
Most would enjoy working out and racing for fun, but most don't feel it's "real" competition compared to their previous experience. Sometimes they are amused by what they see.Wow, what an incredibly elitist attitude. I doubt "most" think that, and I would venture to guess there are quite a few who would be horrified to know you are representing them this way.
For those who are that arrogant:
Some of us didn't have the opportunity for "real competition" in our younger days. I swam on a school team from 7-12th grade and loved it, but there were no age group opportunities where I lived. Because of finances and housing issues I landed at a college without a swim team. All my workouts there came from phone calls to my high school coach. My parents thought swimming, and all my other athletic endeavors, were irritating and expensive time sucks, so I didn't push the issue as much as I would've liked.
Now I am (mostly) in control of my own schedule, have a spouse that understands my competitive nature, and the finances to go where I need to go to get the training I want. I don't see what's so wrong about that. :dunno:
Should I continue to be penalized for not having better opportunities available to me in my youth, just to pacify the egos of those who did?
