Masters Swimmers Acting Like Triathletes

This entire thread, from the original post, is a non-starter. In the martial arts there is the concept of someone "being in your circle" - this is when a person is close enough to be capable of striking you and is, therefore, a potential threat. Someone's else obsessive swim training is no threat to you - they are NOT in your circle. Neither is their smack talk. Neither is their intensity in master's workouts or races. Even Puffster being called a "beech" isn't in her circle - that's just impotence speaking - someone throwing shadow punches well outside of striking range. Besides, a good martial arts person turns things to their advantage. If that oh-so-hot young lady in the next lane is an obsessive trainer, then you can talk to her about her obsession. If she's a shrinking violet and having trouble with the hyper-competitive people, you can offer support. At worst, you will make a friend and then you win the match, grasshopper. -LBJ

What this forum repeatedly comes back to by former elites is the sense of entitlement they feel they alone deserve, but no others. With a nice side helping of the fact they can break records without really trying and anyone who really has to work to do this--and is too proud of the achievement--is just being silly or possibly annoying to them.

Last I saw none of these people posted vanity/body shots of themselves...or has a training blog on-line. www.thelimucompany.com/Default.aspx thelimucompany.com/.../Default.aspx

I'm not sure people understand who the thread is directed to or exactly what is amusing. Is it the behavior of current record holders acting ridiculous or is it the training of any masters swimmer that borders on being somewhat obsessive? I'm confused about what "real competition" is. Isn't all competition just for fun unless one is getting paid for it? What is considered "over the top" behavior? For example, during a good workout week, I swim 10,000 yards, lift twice, and run 8- 10 miles. I have a workout blog mainly to help myself remember what I did and to share with my friends (who asked me to share) who live in other areas. I figured I was a fairly typical average masters swimmer. Is this "over the top?" I think Paul Smith did delineate things in speaking to Fort about what is over the top. Still, though, I'm confused at what folks view as "over the top."

Hi Paul, a quick aside: I think they are in desperate need of your expertise over in the "Ripped Suit" thread...I do believe the result looks a little bit better on Zoccari than it did on you in Oregon (an event that was blessedly not caught on camera).

I'm confused about this thread, also, Elise. Is the problem that some here are putting too much time into their training according to some? Or are they only doing it in an annoying way? I think the references to those who had their "glory days" in high-school and college being amused at those who take things seriously now is demeaning toward the latter group. Is there some commandment from on high that demands one only take athletics seriously when they are under 25? I'm sometimes envious of those who don't have their faster and younger swimmer selves to compare themselves with now. It would be exciting to be doing best times ever in your best events. I know one woman who faults Dara Torres for being so "self-absorbed" and making her whole life about her swimming. I don't relate. If I were that good, had the resources to train like she does and was able to raise my kid with help, I can't say I wouldn't choose the same thing. I don't understand being upset that someone else chooses to live this way. How is it hurting anyone else???

Hi Paul, a quick aside: I think they are in deperate need of your expertise over in the "Ripped Suit" thread...I do believe the result looks a little bit better on Zoccari than it did on you in Oregon (an event that was blessedly not caught on camera). I'll be paying the court settlement for years that was awarded to the 2 young ladies who were so severly traumatized that they are still in counseling... Elise & GoBears...I'll let Mr. Negative answer for himself...I can only speak from my perspective and guess as to what he is talking about. In my opinion he's calling out a handful of swimmers who take themselves so seriouslly that it's really not all that fun to be around. Laura mentions one case...I can think of another where a swimmer got out of the stands and ran to the edge of the pool screaming at the top of her lungs "DIE, DIE, DIE" at a person in the pool who was possibly going to break their record.

I'm confused about this thread, also, Elise. Is the problem that some here are putting too much time into their training according to some? Or are they only doing it in an annoying way? I think the references to those who had their "glory days" in high-school and college being amused at those who take things seriously now is demeaning toward the latter group. Is there some commandment from on high that demands one only take athletics seriously when they are under 25? I'm sometimes envious of those who don't have their faster and younger swimmer selves to compare themselves with now. It would be exciting to be doing best times ever in your best events. I know one woman who faults Dara Torres for being so "self-absorbed" and making her whole life about her swimming. I don't relate. If I were that good, had the resources to train like she does and was able to raise my kid with help, I can't say I wouldn't choose the same thing. I don't understand being upset that someone else chooses to live this way. How is it hurting anyone else??? In fact, there are many that could claim that those of us (masters or non-masters swimmers) that were serious about swimming before 25 were fools. We spent the best part of our youth immersed in chlorine and shut off from a real life. We missed dates, parties, dances, happy hours, football games, and socializing with non-aquatic individuals. Was it worth it for a few seconds/minutes of glory?

I'll be paying the court settlement for years that was awarded to the 2 young ladies who were so severly traumatized that they are still in counseling... Elise & GoBears...I'll let Mr. Negative answer for himself...I can only speak from my perspective and guess as to what he is talking about. In my opinion he's calling out a handful of swimmers who take themselves so seriouslly that it's really not all that fun to be around. Laura mentions one case...I can think of another where a swimmer got out of the stands and ran to the edge of the pool screaming at the top of her lungs "DIE, DIE, DIE" at a person in the pool who was possibly going to break their record. Sweet! Almost as sweet as that avatar :afraid: I've not been around any swimmers like that in my entire career, that I can remember. Now, I have been around psycho parents of swimmers who were like that... Really lame.

Or, having a good relationship with your training partners? I stand in unity with you, tdrop, fight the power!