Masters Swimmers Acting Like Triathletes

Ah...its "MASTERS"...everyone is (technically) a weekend warrior....thats the whole point! Not really, nice as it sounds in theory. I don't see anyone going super fast (or even reasonably fast) who is a true "weekend warrior." What I see is everyone getting up in the wee hours in the middle of the night to train, squeezing in workouts whenever they can, lifting, doing yoga. (Even people who don't compete!) You seem to be perpetuating some some urban myth. Or are people just lazy out west? Same with Mr. Ego, who never made the caveat that his nastiness was limited to weekend warriors overdoing it, as you assert. And I'm still quite sure he had the only wetsuit in Austin last year. That was really over the top ... some girl, thanks for the laugh!

The thing I really like about Master's Swimming is that it can be whatever you want it to be. You can be a record/top 10 chaser, a glorified lap swimmer, a geek, or a person with unreal expectations about yourself(or your importance in the world of swimming)...But Who Gives A SHI_! If someones attitude or ego irritates me in any way I just leave 'em alone. It's not my problem (unless I make it my problem). If I were a former great swimmer I would enjoy helping rookie master swimmers develop the skills necessary to compete in the sport; I would take joy in their new-found excitement of a great fitness/lifestyle activity. If they get a little geeky about it, so what. If you have problems in this area you might want to explore why you are so insecure about yourself. I am sure you may be the know all, do all, be all of swimming but how's the rest of your EQ adding up? :angel:

maybe her kids suck. i've met lots of kids and there aren't many i would miss a bad workout in an over-chlorinated Y pool with a 2 1/2 foot deep shallow end, 90 degree water, and a lane full of overweight noodlers for. (but thats just me) Laura's post reminded me of the woman who publicly stated that she loved her husband more than her 3 kids. She was pilloried. Then she wrote a book about that fact and the flaws of a solely kid-centric lifestyle and made a boatload. Nice post, Bob.

Are these the same people who thought Auburn only won NCAAs this year because they wore "cheater" Jaked suits? LOL. I think those of you who put so much into swimming now are awesome. I don't begrudge anyone their obsessive/compulsive swimming phase. :D I did that in high-school and college. I'm not ready to be that committed again anytime soon. But, It's great to have something you love. So very much better than trying to live vicariously through your kids' athletic endeavors. I know too many parents who should be in the pool themselves instead of pushing their kids to perform. I also know too many moms who are lost when their kids leave home because all they know is parenting. I've vowed to actually have a life so that I'm not lost when my boys all get older and move out on their own. Since I have only boys, I've determined that it's essential to being a decent mother-in-law for me to have my own life and my own interests. Otherwise I'll be that overly-doting mom who expects her boys to constantly call and visit and I'll drive any daughter-in-law nuts. Swimming's got to be a good distraction there, huh?! :)

I still don't understand why it's bad to be competitive and focused. The point is that those among us who were never nationally ranked back in the day should not take Masters swimming so seriously because we will scare off those who were but have yet to join our ranks.

Triathlon is a made-up sport. Just because you string together three real sports in a row, doesn't make your event a "real" sport. Also, it is inherently biased against swimmers; therefore, I hate it. :bitching: I know many triathletes, some very good/fast. Very few, if any, could beat a decent 11-12 year old in a 500y free. But they don't care, because they know they can make up their swimming deficiency on the bike and run legs. Also, anyone who pays $5,000+ for a tri bike - with its itty-bitty 650 wheels and fairy aero-bars, and which is clearly inferior in terms of build and performance to a decent road bike at half the price - has more money than brains. Of course, YMMV. :banana:

the weekend warriors who are SO over the top about their records What age group can you win a record in while being just a weekend warrior? Does it require ****, because I don't have ****, but otherwise I will eventually be in whatever this age group random slackers like me can set a record. And believe me, I want that no work record more than I want some elitist to join USMS. Point me in the right direction Mr. Smith!

Not really, nice as it sounds in theory. I don't see anyone going super fast (or even reasonably fast) who is a true "weekend warrior." What I see is everyone getting up in the wee hours in the middle of the night to train, squeezing in workouts whenever they can, lifting, doing yoga. (Even people who don't compete!) You seem to be perpetuating some some urban myth. Or are people just lazy out west? Same with Mr. Ego, who never made the caveat that his nastiness was limited to weekend warriors overdoing it, as you assert. And I'm still quite sure he had the only wetsuit in Austin last year. That was really over the top ... some girl, thanks for the laugh! Start with a couple of "I" statements Fort... "I get up in the wee hours of the middle of the night" "I squeeze workouts in whever I can" Maybe we are lazy out west...but we do have a sense of humor And I'm quite sure that Mr. Ego never posted a picture of him(her)self on their Facebook page holding up a Top 10 certificate... I think he/we have touched a nerve her with a few folks... Rowdy trained no more than 3k, 3-4 days a week before Clovis in case your interested...Susan V. trained less...Baker did put in 50k a week but I have never once heard him whine about an age group meet not recognizing his times for masters world records or top 10's... Saeger did the same before Mission Neither one "panicked" about the suit ban...they were happy to wear whatever was legal... Last I saw none of these people posted vanity/body shots of themselves...or has a training blog on-line. And Some Girl makes me laugh as well...but I will talk her out of this stupid running obsession!

I have been swimming Masters over 35 years and I don't see that the swimmers at the meets are any more or less competative than when I started,there are just more of them and they are faster.I am very competative in my approach to swimming,but so what,I am ultimately racing myself anyway.When I go to a big meet I usually spend much of my time hanging around with my main competition.Why?Because they are my friends.All the Masters WR holders I know have been really nice people(of course most of the ones I know are breaststrokers and we are naturally nicer.:bolt:)

Are these the same people who thought Auburn only won NCAAs this year because they wore "cheater" Jaked suits? I'm guessing those same people will be pointing out how badly the US got its ass kicked at Worlds unless USA Swimming/Speedo allow swimmers to opt out of their contracts and wear the Jaked. "Michael Phelps doesn't plan to experiment with any new suits at next week's U.S. national championships. Other swimmers aren't so confident they should stick with what they've worn in the past. Last week's ruling by the sport's governing body to approve more high-tech suits leaves them with some decisions to make. Dara Torres expects to try different suits and make a "game-time decision." U.S. national team coach Mark Schubert said he would advise swimmers to experiment with various options and choose what they feel most comfortable with. The problem is that for many elite swimmers, their primary income comes from the suit manufacturer sponsoring them — and they may believe that company no longer makes the fastest suit." www.google.com/.../ALeqM5hA37i7vfIMgyk4Z69LzoOm3WqmoQD9961H680