Re: Proper form for using a kickboard

I think that running is different than swimming.  Track/cross country/road
running athletes train and often compete at a high level all year long.  In the
height of the season, they go from meet to meet, maintaining their high level
of performance. If the breakthtrough result doesn't come this week, there's a
chance again in one or two or three weeks.  Swimming doesn't work that way (for
most swimmers).  It tends to be a year (or at least 6 month) long training
process which culminates in a taper and then a championship meet (again, think
of Natalie Coughlin at world champs).  If the taper is "off" or if there is an
illness or just a bad biorhythm, the whole 6 months of training has more or
less just gone by and the swimmer is left holding the bag.  It doesn't need to
be a gold medal; in most cases, the swimmer is happy to drop times.  But, train
for a whole year (where "training" is much more arduous than in almost any
other sport) and the improvement just doesn't come...it's pretty tough.  With
the passage of time and maturity, the importance of the "process" is
appreciated, as described by Terry in recounting his own college career, but it
is very tough at the time.  It's why I called it "the cruelest sport"...or
close to it.

From: Ross Bogue [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

>>The big meets are fun.  We focus toward them when planning our training 
schedules.  We do our best at them.  A few of us even win medals.  But 
they're not the reason for the sport.
 
>>I know you understand all this.  You are "Runnswim", after all.  The 
same arguments can describe both of your sports.

>>I also know you're thinking of all those poor 7-year-olds swimming lap 
after lap in winner-gets-all programs.