Some interesting views of trigeeks by swimmers

Triathlon Forum
1

I was surfing around the USMS website and dropped in on the forum. There is a thread titled “Triathletes Hate Swimmers”

http://forums.usms.org/showthread.php?s=644152fce4ed54fcb1bd28be209f1c67&threadid=3191

I found it to be quite interesting, some of it funny (like the 1:05 40K on a bike to be “Lance Armstrongish”) and other parts sad that some people in the sport of triathlon, myself included, can really be as stupid about stuff as these guys suggest. Not trying to start a war here between two boards, just thought it was a worthwhile read. I often wonder what the true swimmers think of me as I splash around the pool taking up space.

One of my favorites from the thread - the triathletes motto, “Why be good in one sport, when you can be mediocre in three…”

2

Over the years I have always felt most comfortable training with runners. No surprise, but that’s the sport that I came to triathlon from in 1981. However, back in the early days of triathlon we did throw ourselves to the wolves and trained with swimmers and road cyclists. I am sure there were big laughs from the swimmers and roadies, but we learned a great deal in a short period of time - we had no choice. There were no tri clubs or large groups of people just tri- training. I went out of my way to learn as much as I could about swimming and cycling - the sports, the histories, the cultures, the training etc . . To me it seemed like a tremendous opportunity. I number of people did take me under their wings, pull me aside and show me the ropes and I am grateful for all of that education. At some point along the way I started to feel very comfortable hanging out and training with swimmers and cyclists. There was genuine respect flowing both ways.

These days, like many things in life we tend to do things in silos this is triathlon, this is cycling, this is swimming . . . and never the twain shall meet or mix. It’s a shame really, because there are always opportunities to learn more about what others do.

4

you couldn’t be an elite cyclist sly…you ride one of them non traditional beam bike thingies…they’re not allow in cycling (because they give you an unfair advantage…who’s the fool now??)
.

6

I read the initial post and thought to myself, “Why would the United States Marshals Service be talking about a swimmers vs trigeeks?” I finally clicked the link and got the point…

7

Apparently swimmers can’t spell. Or write English.

8

and your point is? neither can Tibbs and he’s a triath (whatever the hell that is)…or is he…can anyone confirm that Tibbs does triathlons? Anyone?:wink:

9

I have a pretty good perspective on all of this (in the reverse direction – what a swimmer thinks of triathletes). As a competitive swimmer for 30 years now ('88 OLY trials, '03 USMS National Champion, etc. blah, blah, blah), I find triathlons to be thoroughly enjoying. I am in my third season and I find the races themselves to be much more enjoyable (particularly afterwards) than those three or four day swim meets. Naturally, I don’t think I will ever be as accomplished in tri’s as I was in swimming, but I love the month-to-month improvement I seem to be making…I love the diversity of the three sports. Plus, I think triathlons are cooler and people identify with it more directly. And strangely enough, it’s the triathletes who are impressed with my swimming background, not any other masters swimmers.

10

Golly

I never thought that swimmers were nearly as bad as roadies. Now my mind has been changed. Some really don’t like us. Maybe we should boycott all master swim programs just to watch their fees go up perportionally. I believe the economic impact would be stunning.

At my local masters swim program all the swimmers loved us tri-geeks. It must be a regional spatial type of thing.

Rocketboy

11

I think it was Fleck and some others who made the point that years ago, to be a better triathlete you swam with swimmers, rode with roadies and ran with runners.

Absolutely still true today. Do to my schedule, I have only done a dozen or so group rides in the past two years, but they are the best way to become a better cyclist. And if your heartrate is too high for 30 minutes or even an hour of the 2 hour ride will it honestly ruin your week? I don’t buy it.

Swimming? Masters Swimming is also where its at (too bad the prgram here is really intermittent)

Running? Great (but not always easy) to hook up with others who share your same pace. Or slower or faster depending on what you want to get out of it.

If you train with swimmers, bikers and runner, then they will grow to respect and understand triathlon: and maybe even participate.

12

Hay…how come we get to be trigeeks, but they’re not called “swim geeks”?

Clueless Kahuna

13

“From what I hear, roadies aren’t that bright and are easily fooled.”

From what you hear??? Obviously you’ve never been on a group ride?

Roadies will acknowlege that trigeeks can be fast in a strait line when riding solo in an aero position, but just snicker and roll their eyes at their cycling skills. Mountain bikers roll their eyes and snicker even more when the term “triathlete” is mentioned. At least that’s been my experience. Maybe you’ve “heard” different.

I’m sure the reason that runners don’t mind triathletes is because it seems a) that many triathletes come from a running background b) triathlons are usually won on the run c) probably most importantly a pure runner can’t be distinguished in appearance from a triathlete, unlike a trigeek on his tri bike not able to maintain a strait line is easily picked out of a crowd by a roadie.

14

Back in '93, Triathlete Magazine had a team made up of some of the best cyclists in triathlon back then (Mike Pigg, Jurgen Zack, Kenny Souza and a couple of others). They put them into some stage race out in California. It was ugly. By the third day, Zack had dropped out and the rest were sucking wind big time, though one of 'em didn’t get made into roadkill nearly as bad as the others.

Cycling pros also can climb at a pace and cadence that most triathletes can only dream about.

But, triathlon is one sport, with THREE disciplines. We’re not cyclists, or runners or swimmers…we’re triathletes.

Anybody remember Udo Bolt? Steve Larsen did alright, but he couldn’t make the ultimate leap to a podium finish at IMH, right?

Defensive Kahuna

15

Nobody ever picks on decathletes because they don’t run as fast or jump as far or high as other T&F specialists. Same type of deal with triathletes.

16

First, I agree with your sentiments…

Second, this might be redundant but this is my belief…

Normally, when someone has to invalidate another’s sport, they are really just trying to make themselves feel better about their own insecurities. I.E. Roadies can only ride and not run…etc, etc… (Pretty basic I know, but stay with me)

Anyone who discounts both the mental and physical qualifications of a triathlon, must be either A. Stupid 2. Out of shape (and feels insecure about it) or D. Just plain evil.

I ran track in College back in college and was able to hit close to a 4:00 1500… My first try was 5 years ago to this weekend. I remember thinking, with my running background it would be a breeze… Yeah…wasn’t the case…

5 years later After joining a Swim Club (learning the lane etiquette), group riding with roadies, and maintaining my track fitness from college… It would be safe to say I do not consider myself mediocre in any event… I can place in a 5k, 500-1500meters at swim meet, and even a cycle cross event (haven’t got to a cat-5 YET)…

My point… I learned each discipline from the masters of that sport, not just triathletes… We can learn things from roadies, swimmers, and track dorks… During the process, we also learn to mutually respect each ones sport, WHILE create friendships, AND furthering our Triathlon Community…

Frankly, I am tired of the various athletic communities having an elitist attitude about other sports. I think we as triathletes need to be ambassadors to our sport… Who better, we already know three events :slight_smile:

17

I come from a swimming background and can’t think of any of my swimming peers who looked down on triathletes? I’m guessing this is more of an anomaly instead of the norm. Consider how many of the top pros today are ex-swimmers.

One thing that I will say is that, at least in my masters program, there seems to be a lack of lane etiquette among triathletes. Mostly folks not extending the courtesy of swimming in a lane of their ability (folks always seem to want to be in a faster lane) and/or getting in the way of folks that are actually making their intervals. Nothing is more annoying than doing a set and having someone who can’t make the interval slow down the rest of the lane. Stuff like not following the interval and pushing off right before you get to the wall. I’ve ever seen folks who turn around half way down the pool before they get to the wall screwing people on the way down and on the way back.

I’m sure it’s just a lack of “the rules” more than it is them trying to be pricks though. I’m sure if most folks made it a point to (politely) tell them what’s nice and what’s not, they’d be willing to obey the unwritten rules of lap swimming.

18

Guilty as charged for the first few weeks at Masters… After that, new people ask me where I swam in college… Funny, I tell them I ran in college…

It all comes down to You taking accountablity to learn your place at the pool, track, and road…

Chips on the shoulders is like dandrif on a black shirt… brush them off or look stupid!

19

Isn’t the Master’s coach supposed to sort out the swimmers into the lane that’s right for their ability? As far as lane etiquette goes, well…at the Y where I used to swim, you could forget it. The lifeguards (who were usually easily-bullied young teenagers) never stepped in and kept the lanes sorted out by swim ability. Most times, depending upon the time of day for the lap swim, you’d have people of wildly differing abilities and ages getting in each others way. And everybody frustrated and angry at everybody else.

Poolboy Kahuna

20

Do you swim at my Y? That’s why I quit going to Masters–it was a cluster**** and the coach didn’t do anything to sort people out or tell the never-swam-masters-or-much-else guys that if you can’t make a 2:15 100-yd interval, then you should probably go last in the slow lane.

solo swimmer clm

21

Or as I always saw it…

Swimmers are jealous that I can run.
Cyclists are jealous because I could kick their skinny ass.
And runners are jealous because I seem to have an even lower sense of manners.

22

interesting thread. had no idea swimmers were so similar to roadies.

heard the “mediocre” bit from a roadie many yrs ago. I still counter with something including the phrase “one trick pony” every time I hear it since.

figure it’s worth hanging with the fish, tho (IF you can get into a good and supportive masters program). why? because the swim makes a huge difference. yeah we all know that, but here’s my latest example:

last Sunday’s Son of Spud OD tri was
converted on raceday morning to a sprint du (nominally
5k-17mi-5k) due to lingering effects of Bonnie-Charlie
rainfall runoff. Too much bacteria in the water, WAY
too much current anyway, and part of the OD bike
course washed-out and/or covered in debris.

raceday weather was great, otherwise.

in the end, 10 minutes covered the first 76 of 346
finishers…that’s approaching 22% of the entire
field.

contrast with the Spud Du (sprint) and Spud Tris (OD
and sprint) all held on the same course 2mo ago under
near identical climatic conditions, and 10min covers
the first:

Du: 10 of 76
Short Tri: 10 of 393
OD Tri: 7 of 361

I mean, the Spud Short and Du (and, honestly, OD)
fields were not particularly stacked, what with 3-4
other marquee races in the region that day, but
still…what a difference the swim makes when you
“take it away” from a bunch of ppl who thought it’d be
there for them.