Men Who Swim

Real friendship is hard to accomplish… lots of “social rules” for humans to “open” themselves. natural and safe to stay among the ones we “think” predictable… The swimming Master “world” as we are “undressed” is more open and casual:applaud:

This fits a point I'm trying to make! We need more men in synchro! Just back from World Masters in Italy, and still frustrated that men are still not allowed to participate in synchronized swimming international competitions. It is time for a change! Please support this cause by visiting our page and signing our petition! Our goal is to have mixed categories at the FINA World Masters 2014 in Montreal, Canada! Please help make this happen: www.facebook.com/SynchroMenAtFinaWorlds

I spent big chunks of time as a runner on the treadmill at the YMCA during the winter months; hardly ever talked to anyone (or was talked to), though I would see the same people over and over again. I've met more people there in the last year of swimming than I did the previous decade of running. Ironically, since you can't really hold a conversation underwater. Maybe it is the attire (or lack thereof)!?

I spent big chunks of time as a runner on the treadmill at the YMCA during the winter months; hardly ever talked to anyone (or was talked to), though I would see the same people over and over again. I've met more people there in the last year of swimming than I did the previous decade of running. Ironically, since you can't really hold a conversation underwater. Maybe it is the attire (or lack thereof)!? I think it's the interval training. You can't talk during the swimming phase, but you pretty much can't avoid talking in between sets. You are all gathered together in close proximity. Rookies are arguing about who gets to go first on the next set. Veterans are arguing about who gets to go last! You also have the built in simultaneous scheduling--everyone shows up at roughly the same time, swims the practice, and heads to the lockerroom afterwards. At our Y, there is a steam bath and Jacuzzi, and a decent chunk of our team head to this before getting dressed. Another opportunity for regular, relaxed, endorphin-fueled conversation and conviviality. I think the social component of masters swimming may actually be more important for most of us that the physical shape component, though we tell ourselves it's the latter that motivates us to keep coming, year after year. I love masters swimming!

er, hijacking this thread, but it is about men who swim www.menshealth.com/.../ryan-lochte just saw the article in men's health today at my library. nice article by jim thorton!

er, hijacking this thread, but it is about men who swim www.menshealth.com/.../ryan-lochte just saw the article in men's health today at my library. nice article by jim thorton! Thanks so much for the kind words . He came off as a Trulylikable gent. Very down to earth. I will try to post some short video on my blog,

I remember reading that article. Didn't even realize it was written by the same person who invented the "Thornton Coefficient" .

Did anybody else happen to catch the PBS show, Independent Lens, this week? There was an hour long documentary entitled Men Who Swim, and I must say it was one of the best things I have seen on TV in years, and the best documentary since Sherman's March. Funny, poignant, and beautifully filmed, especially the underwater stuff. I almost didn't watch it because the topic seemed self-consciously whacky: a group of Swedish guys approaching 40 who decide to start what they believe is the first (and only) male synchronized swimming team. You can see some clips that the director posted here: www.directorsnotes.com/.../ Back to the original topic, I just discovered that "Men Who Swim" is available through Netflix online! This web site is great for searching the Netflix database and then adding titles to your Netflix online queue: http://instantwatcher.com/

Netflix here I come!!!:bolt:

I sent it to the team for a test run!