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:
Even though I don't like 50's and they don't like me, I would never want them gone. There are enough people doing 100's and 200's (which I like) and without the 50's there would be even more people doing them...
Just wait until you get a pile of responses from those who want to add 25s to the schedule. Yes, they are really serious.
25s are on the schedule at the Sprint Classic in PV! :)
Uh, since when is the pool "yours," USMS Fan?
I love 50s! They are hugely appealing to me as a master. You're obviously not a sprinter, but why begrudge those specializing in 50s and 100s? Sprints are not synonymous with bad stroke technique. It's just a different skill set and mode of training/racing.
Masters is for fun. I specialize in the 200 fly and the 400 IM, and I have no problem with the fact that the 50's, the 100 IM, and the 100 free are the most popular events in Masters. How many people would show up if only longer events were contested? I have the answer here.
Now let's see... you're anti-sprint so you're not John Smith... who are you, USMS Troll? :cane:
I don't care too much for the 50s and the 100 IM but if Masters swimmers want to focus on "summer league" events, so be it. If you have the 100 IM, it will definitely cut back on the number of heats of the 200 IM. Waiting through 39 heats of 200 IM is not fun.
Whoa. My favorite races are 100 free and 100 fly, followed closely by 50 free. I was merely pointing out that there is a cycle.
Well, you did suggest it wasn't "OK" for masters to race stroke 50s and that sprinters were taking up "your" pool space ...
And it is how fast you swim .. it's always about how fast you swim. But, thanks to age groups, "fast" may be relative.
I enjoy watching my distance friends swim. Why deride the fast twitch folks?
I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
usms should allow only 70+ers in anything
Ok, if this "fan" wants 50's out, then I want the 800/1000, 1500/1650, and 400 IM out.
No really, if 50's are for those who can't swim longer events, then for those of us that can't focus for long periods. That seems fair to me.
We will only have 100's, 200's of strokes and the 400/500 free. That way you have to have some speed and endurance. Meets will get over quickier. We won't have spend nights in hotels for meet, since there won't be multi-day meets.
Yea, your idea will go over about as well as mine. As That Guy said, usms is is for fun. If 50's are pointless to you, don't swim them. There are those that do like them.
