We already have too many nannies, no certification just greater transparency and warnings. Such as; don't be a Darwin award winner or do you want your obituary to read “his overconfidence lead to his death” Plus, as a swim coach do I want to sign off on a certification and then the guy croaks anyway? I’m thinking I open myself up for liability.
I’m torn on this issue. I’ve seen some horrendous swimmers in the pool training for a triathlon and just shook my head in wonderment at the potential consequences. However, I also agree with Ken about not wanting a nanny to look out for everyone. Life is a gamble.
I’ve got quite a bit of open water experience and I’ve dealt with the initial anxiety pangs and soaring heart rate. Cold water seems to exacerbate this. I know to anticipate this and have learned to handle it; a beginner may not.
The significant difference with the swim leg in a triathlon is that if I’m unprepared for the bike or run, it’s not a big deal. If I’m unprepared for the swim, it’s potentially life threatening.
Interesting responses so far; I didn't have time to weigh in on my opinion earlier. Due to the danger of this leg of triathlon, I think it makes sense to somehow encourage weaker swimmers to take swim lessons. Since USMS brags about its affiliation with USAT in the recently published promotional materials, this could be a great opportunity for USMS and USAT to work together.
There are events whose swims take place in pools that provide a more controlled environment - but for those events with longer swims in open water, there is considerably higher risk. I think it would be wise for USAT to provide event directors with a mechanism by which they can better ensure that their participants will finish the swim - with a certification done by USMS.
One way to provide this certification is to hold distance meets at opportune times of the year (winter, prior to spring tri season; summer, in the middle of tri season). These meets are a great way for distance swimmers to swim their babies - and for triathletes to gain confidence and test their training prior to and/or during their spring/summer season. At the Colonies Zone SCY Championship meet, 60% the entrants in the 1000 and 1650 were from the triathlete teams.
We already have too many nannies, no certification just greater transparency and warnings. Such as; don't be a Darwin award winner or do you want your obituary to read “his overconfidence lead to his death” Plus, as a swim coach do I want to sign off on a certification and then the guy croaks anyway? I’m thinking I open myself up for liability.
of course the inverse is true. "Why did you let my husband compete in this event? He was not informed properly of the danger." I don't think "too many nannies," or liability really matter. I just care that people are dieing at a high rate. More than 1 every 200 races. Yuck.
as both a triathlon and a swimming coach, I find this idea ridiculous.
If triathlon needs more regulations, then the body that should implement these rules should be a Triathlon body, not a master swimmer's body.
I understand the wanting to have some sort of governing body have swimmers tested for swimming and heart issues but there is no way to how a person will act when 1) racing in a pack 2) getting off the start in pack. Those are usually the most times when the heart rates will spike because of fear, excitement and adrenaline, especially with new triathletes.
People with heart issues might still be cleared because of poor detection or never having a issue prior. Some people that have been training for years sometimes die because their hearts are too large from training all of those years.
When people sign-up for races most people sign a waiver and see that injury and death are a possibility. In any athletic event there is a chance of injury and there are many ways of overcoming it, proper training is a good way to handle it.
We don't need more nannies. This is a USAT issue, not a USMS issue.
Lots of issues here...
An important one being, introduce safe and efficient swimming to triathletes.
As much as they would like to lay claim that triathlon is a life long sport, it rarely is due to injuries, time constraints, and related cost.
Masters swimming is an answer to any of these deterrents.
So, why not find a way to encourage a relationship with a masters swim coach and a club to improve the athlete's open water swim experience in a triathlon?
It might just help grow our sport.
And save or extend a few lives in the process.
That would be very dangerous. I often swim at a pool after my 16 mile bike commute. Sometimes, if my bike is not set up properly or if I'm dehydrated, my legs will cramp suddenly, without warning.
That's a training and conditioning issue. I would prefer the swim at the end when I'm good and warmed up.
Many triathletes just try to survive the swim and hence put in survival practice time. I'd be a rich man if I had a $1 for every tri that said, "if I could only swim faster, I'd do so much better overall." But, then when you press them on how much they swim they say, "twice a week, 1000 yards."
A late Winter tri I did had a pool swim and you had to put your 100 yard time for seeding. The guy in front of me put a :47 thinking you had to put your 25 time. He was like a speed bump.
90% of the reason I took up the triathloning was to amuse myself at the terrifying swimming I see in races. The other 100% was to annoy Paul Smith.
That's 190% but since it's Paul Smith, that math works.
