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.
I don't know what swimming culture you guys grew up in ... our coaches actively encouraged us to idolize and copy (with our weak imitations) the likes of Goodell & Salnikov (we were aspiring d-guys), as well as the regional and state-wide "heroes" who we could learn from. Pursuing, admiring & learning from excellence is always a good thing, IMHO. Call me a swim-nerd, but I find this sport wonderful to cheer about, study and obsess about ... AT ANY AGE.
Kurt, not what I was saying. In fact studying your competition (knowing the guys that go out fast and die for example), trying out different training philosophies/techniques was all very common and good...know one I knew got abuse for that stuff. However Gilles Plancon coming into UCSB as a Freshman and telling the school record holder in the 100 fly he was going down earned him getting his bike tossed up on the roof of the gym everyday for 2 weeks.
Patrick...you are so full of it! No one talks more smack than a Longhorn, not even a Trojan!!! Being a fan has nothing to do with Britt taking money away from John Smith after waxing him in the 50 back at nationals...a year later and the insults are still flying. If you walked back into the Texas locker room today with a trace of attitude Eddie would have the entire team rolling on the floor laughing at the smart ass comments he'd make.
I don't know what swimming culture you guys grew up in ... our coaches actively encouraged us to idolize and copy (with our weak imitations) the likes of Goodell & Salnikov (we were aspiring d-guys), as well as the regional and state-wide "heroes" who we could learn from. Pursuing, admiring & learning from excellence is always a good thing, IMHO. Call me a swim-nerd, but I find this sport wonderful to cheer about, study and obsess about ... AT ANY AGE.
Kurt, not what I was saying. In fact studying your competition (knowing the guys that go out fast and die for example), trying out different training philosophies/techniques was all very common and good...know one I knew got abuse for that stuff. However Gilles Plancon coming into UCSB as a Freshman and telling the school record holder in the 100 fly he was going down earned him getting his bike tossed up on the roof of the gym everyday for 2 weeks.
Patrick...you are so full of it! No one talks more smack than a Longhorn, not even a Trojan!!! Being a fan has nothing to do with Britt taking money away from John Smith after waxing him in the 50 back at nationals...a year later and the insults are still flying. If you walked back into the Texas locker room today with a trace of attitude Eddie would have the entire team rolling on the floor laughing at the smart ass comments he'd make.
