I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
Many people who race 50s in masters meets swim their workouts with the 50 races in mind. Got it. I've been a swimmer and a coach for over 40 years. Even last weekend I was at an invitational. A boy on my kids' team who hasn't been to a workout in months swam a zone time in a 50. The first thing he said to the coach was, "See!? I don't have to practice to swim fast!" Guaranteed that he couldn't do the same in the 400IM without going to practice.
It isn't really helpful to compare competitive age-group and masters training.
Kids are being developed and figuring out which type of athlete they are early on.
Masters swim for all kinds of reasons - hundreds of reasons. Whatever it is, I hope we have an event for them to use as a goal to make it fun and worthwhile to make it to workout.
Many people who race 50s in masters meets swim their workouts with the 50 races in mind. Got it. I've been a swimmer and a coach for over 40 years. Even last weekend I was at an invitational. A boy on my kids' team who hasn't been to a workout in months swam a zone time in a 50. The first thing he said to the coach was, "See!? I don't have to practice to swim fast!" Guaranteed that he couldn't do the same in the 400IM without going to practice.
It isn't really helpful to compare competitive age-group and masters training.
Kids are being developed and figuring out which type of athlete they are early on.
Masters swim for all kinds of reasons - hundreds of reasons. Whatever it is, I hope we have an event for them to use as a goal to make it fun and worthwhile to make it to workout.
