Participation rates for competition in Running vs. Swimming

I meant to ask in terms of X% of fitness swimmers (those that are already swimming) compete in meets vs. Y% of joggers compete in races. I suppose such stats likely don't exist. But I'm really more concerned with my observation that Masters swim meets do not attract many slower swimmers. If I look at the 100 free times for 40-44 men, the vast majority of times are under one minute. If you go over 1:10 that puts you in the bottom 50 out of 476 swimmers. From the few 5ks I've ran, it seems you have a lot more people just happy to do their best and complete the race. Its commonplace to have walkers that take 45 minutes or more. The intimidation factor is what I think keeps beginners from competing in swimming. If I hadn't been on the blocks 30 years ago in age group I doubt I could have done it. But I've also observed that in reality Masters swimmers are very friendly to all levels of swimmers. If people are happy just doing workouts then fine we don't want to force you to compete. I know for myself I like to compete against my times and that what keeps me going. Having taught a swim class made up mostly of triathletes and fitness swimmers, I would say that the intimidation factor is huge. It is interesting that beginner triathletes would prefer their first swim competition to be the swim leg on an open water swim on a triathlon. Open water competition, whether alone or the first leg on a tri, is far more dangerous than pool competition, so the preference does not seem logical. Many triathletes, however, view masters swimming as "professional swimming." To some extent, I suppose I can understand the view of masters swimming as professional swimming. Take an individual who is a good all-around athlete who has never competed in running or swimming, only knows how to do freestyle, but is equally decent in running and swimming moderate distances. I suspect that the time (months, years) that it would take that individual to make a NQT in the 100 I.M. would be LONGER than it would take to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Neither is easy, but I do think that those of us that compete forget sometimes just how technical and difficult swimming can be to somebody that has not done it. I've had success in getting triathletes to do the 1650 and 500 at winter meets. Perhaps masters meets just offering these types of things might attract triathletes and lap swimmers to compete. Isn't such a meet offered by the Maryland Terrapins masters team? Seems like a really good idea.

I meant to ask in terms of X% of fitness swimmers (those that are already swimming) compete in meets vs. Y% of joggers compete in races. I suppose such stats likely don't exist. But I'm really more concerned with my observation that Masters swim meets do not attract many slower swimmers. If I look at the 100 free times for 40-44 men, the vast majority of times are under one minute. If you go over 1:10 that puts you in the bottom 50 out of 476 swimmers. From the few 5ks I've ran, it seems you have a lot more people just happy to do their best and complete the race. Its commonplace to have walkers that take 45 minutes or more. The intimidation factor is what I think keeps beginners from competing in swimming. If I hadn't been on the blocks 30 years ago in age group I doubt I could have done it. But I've also observed that in reality Masters swimmers are very friendly to all levels of swimmers. If people are happy just doing workouts then fine we don't want to force you to compete. I know for myself I like to compete against my times and that what keeps me going. Having taught a swim class made up mostly of triathletes and fitness swimmers, I would say that the intimidation factor is huge. It is interesting that beginner triathletes would prefer their first swim competition to be the swim leg on an open water swim on a triathlon. Open water competition, whether alone or the first leg on a tri, is far more dangerous than pool competition, so the preference does not seem logical. Many triathletes, however, view masters swimming as "professional swimming." To some extent, I suppose I can understand the view of masters swimming as professional swimming. Take an individual who is a good all-around athlete who has never competed in running or swimming, only knows how to do freestyle, but is equally decent in running and swimming moderate distances. I suspect that the time (months, years) that it would take that individual to make a NQT in the 100 I.M. would be LONGER than it would take to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Neither is easy, but I do think that those of us that compete forget sometimes just how technical and difficult swimming can be to somebody that has not done it. I've had success in getting triathletes to do the 1650 and 500 at winter meets. Perhaps masters meets just offering these types of things might attract triathletes and lap swimmers to compete. Isn't such a meet offered by the Maryland Terrapins masters team? Seems like a really good idea.