The awards are listed here:
www.usms.org/.../gothedistance
Keep in mind that GTD is meant to be a fitness event, not a competition event.
The "competition" is (supposedly) only against the goal that you set or certain milestones (eg, doing more than 100 miles for the year), not against each other. Giving awards for the top distances would be counter to that philosophy.
I felt like I won as did any participant who met his/her goal.
I've never read anything on this website that declared anyone the absolute winner of the GTD event.
Keep in mind that GTD is meant to be a fitness event, not a competition event.
The "competition" is (supposedly) only against the goal that you set or certain milestones (eg, doing more than 100 miles for the year), not against each other. Giving awards for the top distances would be counter to that philosophy.
I thought so too, but then read this posted by USMS on Facebook
Former Lafayette Mayor and current City Councilman Don Tatzin swam an amazing 1,789.18 miles in 2010 on his way to winning the United States Masters Swimming “Go the Distance” competition.
The person who wrote the article that was posted on Facebook used the terms "winning" and "competition". I can't find this verbage anywhere on the GTD webpage at USMS.org.
I don't get the point of an overall winner for GTD. To determine who has the most free time to spend in the water?
Shoot, If I could have done the GTD 12-15 years ago in college, I could be "winning" the whole thing, just like a lot of people could have. 7000-8000 or more yards a workout, 10-11 times a week.
But the fact is that in Masters, most of us have jobs, family, or other commitments that keep us from spending that many hours in the pool. We just have to make good use of what time we have now. :cheerleader:
It's a cool event because it is relevant to any level of swimmer although I'm cool with anyone who goes over 1,000 miles in a year claiming to "win" the event. Whatever floats your boat works for me!! :)
The bottom line is that we're all winners regardless of the distance we're able to swim during the course of year! :applaud:
My goal last year was to swim 250 miles, which I just managed to do given 2010 was my first full year back swimming after a very long absence. By the Fall, I was becoming a bit obsessed with making sure I was keeping up with my goal, so this year I'm not so worried about hitting any particular number. I just want to get in 4 good quality workouts each week, and if I manage to make my goal, that's an added benefit. :)
