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 general obsession with tech suits, etc.
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.
Now back to my question: Does it seem like there are more and more people getting wound up in USMS like the obsessed training triathletes nuts these days?
Well, I reject the premise of the question about triathlon "nuts." At the few triathlons I have attended, I saw a LOT of participants -- even a majority -- who were simply content to finish and are not hypercompetitive about it. (Though I will admit that most of them -- even the slow ones -- had nicer bikes than me.)
There is a subset of triathletes who train for Iron Man events, and they do have to put a lot of training time in. But they are a small minority of triathletes as a whole. And the ones I know are no more self-indulgent than most people.
My wife once participated in a group called "tri-moms" where the emphasis was to get mothers physically active by giving them a goal: ie, gather beginner triathletes, teach them some skills and train together towards a sprint tri. What's wrong with this kind of thing? And yes, my wife recently ran into one of them who now competes in IM triathlons, and she somehow hasn't abandoned her kids in the process. Good for her, I say.
As far as whether USMS members are becoming more obsessed with performance and competition, I don't really know. I don't see it at all in the local swimmers in my area, the vast majority of whom do not compete at all.
Nationally, I have been in a pretty competitive age group, an age where some former swimmers seem to be rediscovering their love of competitive swimming and are old enough where their children are more independent and jobs are more secure. I don't know if this represents a trend or if it has always been that way, but even if it does, so what?
This is an excellent observation Mr. Negative.
I, for one, plan to take this comment to heart while I try and take swimming less seriously. My first act will be to fill my water bottle with Vodka and take it to practice tomorrow. I fully expect to be the life of the practice!! :bliss: And so that it's not "all about me," I will be happy to share with my lanemates who may or may not be of legal drinking age. . . The only record I expect to break will be the number of times I puke on the pool deck! I agree with you in that masters is all about fun. Not sure how the Vodka fits into the health thing, but one out of two ain't bad!
They will find some activity to work hard at, swimming or otherwise.
Couldn't agree more. Imagine all the swimmers who would have this extra time on their hands and who may resort to selling crack if it weren't for USMS.
But on a more serious note, of the few world record holders I've met, they seem to be less about the record and more about the smack talk.
Well, I reject the premise of the question about triathlon "nuts." At the few triathlons I have attended, I saw a LOT of participants -- even a majority -- who were simply content to finish and are not hypercompetitive about it. (Though I will admit that most of them -- even the slow ones -- had nicer bikes than me.)
There is a subset of triathletes who train for Iron Man events, and they do have to put a lot of training time in. But they are a small minority of triathletes as a whole. And the ones I know are no more self-indulgent than most people.
My wife once participated in a group called "tri-moms" where the emphasis was to get mothers physically active by giving them a goal: ie, gather beginner triathletes, teach them some skills and train together towards a sprint tri. What's wrong with this kind of thing? And yes, my wife recently ran into one of them who now competes in IM triathlons, and she somehow hasn't abandoned her kids in the process. Good for her, I say.
As far as whether USMS members are becoming more obsessed with performance and competition, I don't really know. I don't see it at all in the local swimmers in my area, the vast majority of whom do not compete at all.
Nationally, I have been in a pretty competitive age group, an age where some former swimmers seem to be rediscovering their love of competitive swimming and are old enough where their children are more independent and jobs are more secure. I don't know if this represents a trend or if it has always been that way, but even if it does, so what?
+1
Geek, be happy that someone on this board is defending you (and twice in one post) by saying you don't suck. As for me, I don't see anyone coming to my defense re: f'in beech.
:D
You are divine. Soar above it. (Jim T. will be here quick as he can to defend the Nereid of his drems.)
Chris,
As a whole, there still doesn't seem to be that many ex swimmers that went to nationals in their day participating in USMS..... particularly top level performers. There's a few, but not that many and interesting when you consider their strong level of enthusiasm and dedication decades ago.
I doubt this level of enthusiasm displayed by more and more USMS hard core participants is what former elite swimmers are looking to match. A few come back and swim moderately hard.... but you'll have to agree most stay away permanently, which is..... unfortunate.
Might I throw out the notion that some former national finalists actually stay away from USMS because of the hard core participants in their age groups as they don't care to deal with the obession and comparison factor. Most would rather swim for fun and health and not deal with absurdity of comparing so called "best times" in your old age.
I don't agree with anything you've said. Beclouded thought bubbles.
Happy swimming to the swimmers! And the tris!
:)
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?
I never realized that selfishness was a complaint about triathletes, I always thought the primary complaint was they bitched to much about the swimming leg of tris.
What exactly does a selfless person do? Spend a 110% of their income fueling our ecomony? Watch live tv paying special attention to commercials? Funnel more money into the health care/insurance complex by living sedate lifestyles while over consuming nutritionally devoid packed foods?
:confused:
Chris,
As a whole, there still doesn't seem to be that many ex swimmers that went to nationals in their day participating in USMS..... particularly top level performers. There's a few, but not that many and interesting when you consider their strong level of enthusiasm and dedication decades ago.
I doubt this level of enthusiasm displayed by more and more USMS hard core participants is what former elite swimmers are looking to match. A few come back and swim moderately hard.... but you'll have to agree most stay away permanently, which is..... unfortunate.
Might I throw out the notion that some former national finalists actually stay away from USMS because of the hard core participants in their age groups as they don't care to deal with the obession and comparison factor. Most would rather swim for fun and health and not deal with absurdity of comparing so
called "best times" in your old age.
Ugh, what snobby elitism. So the hard core masters should chill out and cut back training so that the former "greats" can swim masters for fun without getting their asses kicked and suffering humiliation? And, uh, the so-called "absurdity" of comparing times in age groups is the very essence and definition of masters competition.
Now, I'm off to train with some former and still excellent swimmers who do something other than whine.
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 hate to respond to an obvious troll but...
Why does it bug you so much? If you dont want to compete then dont. If you dont like the competitive talk on this BB, dont read it. If your team is too focused on competition (and I doubt that), find a new one, or swim solo.
Do your own thing and stop clucking about what masters swimming "should be" - we are all adults now, who cares about what everyone else is doing?
