Participation rates for competition in Running vs. Swimming
Former Member
How do these compare?
It seems to me that the number of competitors in Masters swim meets is so small compared to the number of "fitness" swimmers (including swimmers in Masters groups).
Then again there are a lot of joggers that likely never do so much as a 5k.
Parents
Former Member
Point, but I still think there are fewer "occasional" athletes (or whatever you want to call them) in OW swim races compared to road races or triathlons. OW swimming can be intimidating to some, even experienced pool swimmers.
Drilling down further there appear to be different kinds of OW races. My favorite local open water race is very similar to a road race crowd. The majority of swimmers are not age group or masters swimmers. I don't know how many of them are triathletes but there seem to be a good number families swimming it, and a fair number of people who swim this particular event every year but don't participate in any other organized events. I think this is their 30th year running this event. It's a two mile swim across a bay in a small town hours from any major urban centers. They also have an 8k and a short race for kids.
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Former Member
Point, but I still think there are fewer "occasional" athletes (or whatever you want to call them) in OW swim races compared to road races or triathlons. OW swimming can be intimidating to some, even experienced pool swimmers.
Drilling down further there appear to be different kinds of OW races. My favorite local open water race is very similar to a road race crowd. The majority of swimmers are not age group or masters swimmers. I don't know how many of them are triathletes but there seem to be a good number families swimming it, and a fair number of people who swim this particular event every year but don't participate in any other organized events. I think this is their 30th year running this event. It's a two mile swim across a bay in a small town hours from any major urban centers. They also have an 8k and a short race for kids.
