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.
The level of obsession over gear/tech suits by swimmers is about one-one billionth of the obsession over gear by triathletes. I have enjoyed the angst over tech suits when I have read numerous articles in tri magazines over the weight of such items as water bottle cages, eye glasses, etc.
The most recent Triathlete magazine has a large article reviewing the newest electronic shifters, price is $5K.
I agree with you. I realize the level of obsession is totally different. Triathletes are more obsessive/compulsive, but I think tech suits have shown that masters swimmers share some of those qualities. Suit stacking, worrying about what is legal and what isn't, buying and testing multiple suits to get the optimal results, I find a bit "triathlete like". I don't think it necessarily is a bad thing, but just something that is different about swimming now versus 20 or 30 years ago.
I can't imagine that swimmers being more like triathletes is a bad thing for USMS, but I can see some former elite swimmers from the 70s/80s looking on and shaking their heads and maybe being put off a bit in regard to masters swimmers trying to find the edge (through tech suits or training) on their competition to get into the top ten or set records that are largely meaningless from their perspective. I wish I could share their perspective, but I am just part of the mediocre masses.
Tim
The level of obsession over gear/tech suits by swimmers is about one-one billionth of the obsession over gear by triathletes. I have enjoyed the angst over tech suits when I have read numerous articles in tri magazines over the weight of such items as water bottle cages, eye glasses, etc.
The most recent Triathlete magazine has a large article reviewing the newest electronic shifters, price is $5K.
I agree with you. I realize the level of obsession is totally different. Triathletes are more obsessive/compulsive, but I think tech suits have shown that masters swimmers share some of those qualities. Suit stacking, worrying about what is legal and what isn't, buying and testing multiple suits to get the optimal results, I find a bit "triathlete like". I don't think it necessarily is a bad thing, but just something that is different about swimming now versus 20 or 30 years ago.
I can't imagine that swimmers being more like triathletes is a bad thing for USMS, but I can see some former elite swimmers from the 70s/80s looking on and shaking their heads and maybe being put off a bit in regard to masters swimmers trying to find the edge (through tech suits or training) on their competition to get into the top ten or set records that are largely meaningless from their perspective. I wish I could share their perspective, but I am just part of the mediocre masses.
Tim
