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:
I'm new to this web site. Not new to swimming. So I was surprised to see how many masters swimmers focus on 50s. And then I pointed out the cycle of young ones and older ones focusing on the 50s. :argue:
Why does this surprise you? :confused: It seems quite obvious to me...
As for "pointing out the cycle of young ones and older ones focusing on the 50s", you did WAY more than that. Refer back to the quote I included in my previous post, from your original post. And, you wonder why several of us are reacting the way we are??? :bitching:
And, oh, by the way, I may be a sprinter, but I have total admiration and respect for distance swimmers! :bow: I've been a fan of Lynn Cox since I was a kid (and I'm 48). Go ahead, Google the name and see what kind of distances she swam- and where. :bow: :bow: Believe me, if I had the physical and mental makeup to be a distance swimmer, I would be happy to join Lump and the others. But, I'm not wired for distances and I'm grateful for the opportunity to swim 50s, in addition to my 100 and 200 breaststroke. :bliss:
I'm new to this web site. Not new to swimming. So I was surprised to see how many masters swimmers focus on 50s. And then I pointed out the cycle of young ones and older ones focusing on the 50s. :argue:
Why does this surprise you? :confused: It seems quite obvious to me...
As for "pointing out the cycle of young ones and older ones focusing on the 50s", you did WAY more than that. Refer back to the quote I included in my previous post, from your original post. And, you wonder why several of us are reacting the way we are??? :bitching:
And, oh, by the way, I may be a sprinter, but I have total admiration and respect for distance swimmers! :bow: I've been a fan of Lynn Cox since I was a kid (and I'm 48). Go ahead, Google the name and see what kind of distances she swam- and where. :bow: :bow: Believe me, if I had the physical and mental makeup to be a distance swimmer, I would be happy to join Lump and the others. But, I'm not wired for distances and I'm grateful for the opportunity to swim 50s, in addition to my 100 and 200 breaststroke. :bliss:
