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:
Former Member
The 50 free is by far the most entered event at every masters meet I've ever been to.
As far as the "other" 50's, everyone's got to start somewhere. Many new comers use this event as the building block to doing a 100 of their preferred stroke.
Too bad they don't have a 150 or a 300 like they do (sometimes) in college swimming. That'd be a neat distance.
I have to agree also. It's a relief getting ready to swim the 1000 or 1650. It's agonizing for the 50.
Then again watching Fort or Wookie(e) on the blocks for a 1000 would be a sight to behold.
Wasn't Gull being sarcastic? One doesn't typically worry about "pacing" during a 50 ...
Flip turns are a weakness. Who needs however many are in a 1000? :)
Wasn't Gull being sarcastic? One doesn't typically worry about "pacing" during a 50 ...
Flip turns are a weakness. Who needs however many are in a 1000? :)
I should have considered the sarcastic angle. But, I am never very stressed before long races.
I wish they would add a race the short way across a 6 lane pool.
I love training for 50's....I spend as much time in the weight room as the pool - and I like to weight train for other sports anyway.
If you want to decrease interest in masters competition, get rid of the 50s and the 100 IM. The tech suit issue pales in comparison.
Honestly, I mostly don't like to do the sprint events, though I occasionally indulge myself. But they are fun to watch and if they were gone, there would be no resting between the *real* events, right? :bolt:
More seriously, I think 50s are good complements to the other events. It isn't all that hard to be simultaneously good at the 100 & 200, but to be also good at a 50 takes some work.
And even elite competitions are bringing them back. The 50 free has been in the Olympics only since 1988 and there have been proposals to add the other 50s as well (I don't think they'll succeed). And aren't they doing them at Pan Pacs this week?
Wow! Never did I expect to get such a hostile response from so many people. Zen! Do many young swimmers swim 50s? Undeniably, yes. Do swimmers swim 50s (other than free) between 13-18? No. Do many masters swimmers revert to 50s and forego most 100s and 200s? Yes. These are all true statements, so why is this such a sensitive issue? Even some of the people who were the most aggressive in their responses were in violent agreement with me. Many times, there are young swimmers who have poor technique and muscle through 50s, but cannot repeat that success in 100s or 200s.
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. I've got two kids. One has been in the finals at my state's USA Swimming State Championships. She made the finals in 3 events. 50 back, 50 *** and 50 fly. My other kid is a zone swimmer in one event. 50 free. I love 50s. They are fun.
But 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's like the difference between a drag race (in, say, Concord, NC) and a Formula One race (in Austin, TX).
Of course there are those who would rather grab a bag of fried pork skins and a six pack and watch a drag race.
I've reported you to the moderator. You are dead to me.
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.
So you've got some sort of problem with people who swim fast over short distances without going to practice, but knowing that they can't perform at the same level in a 400IM gives you some solace. Got it.
