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
..... From what I am gathering, there is not a problem with folks being hard-core about their training. It seems to be more about how people are manifesting their competitive nature.
There does seem to be a certain amount of pressure from having been good in the past and coming back to compete for fun. I've seen people get in the face of former great athletes when they return to the competition arena for the first time in 10 years and after a race ask, "What happened to you? I beat you." Rather than encouraging the former greats to continue their comeback, some competitors take great delight in pointing out where the former greats went out too hard or messed up on their race. I can see why some former greats might ask themselves, "Is it worth coming back to race to put up with this crap? I just want to have fun and not have people getting in my face about my race."
There is a price to be paid for having been good in the past, but I hope that the former greats out there won't continue to let a few nuts keep them from enjoying the comraderie of masters swimming.
Another response nicely stated.... and not threatened.
Thank you for answering my initial questions.
..... From what I am gathering, there is not a problem with folks being hard-core about their training. It seems to be more about how people are manifesting their competitive nature.
There does seem to be a certain amount of pressure from having been good in the past and coming back to compete for fun. I've seen people get in the face of former great athletes when they return to the competition arena for the first time in 10 years and after a race ask, "What happened to you? I beat you." Rather than encouraging the former greats to continue their comeback, some competitors take great delight in pointing out where the former greats went out too hard or messed up on their race. I can see why some former greats might ask themselves, "Is it worth coming back to race to put up with this crap? I just want to have fun and not have people getting in my face about my race."
There is a price to be paid for having been good in the past, but I hope that the former greats out there won't continue to let a few nuts keep them from enjoying the comraderie of masters swimming.
Another response nicely stated.... and not threatened.
Thank you for answering my initial questions.
