Top X Reasons You Should Go To A MSO Meet This Season [Swim Diesel]
The 2017-18 swim season is already well underway and as my club sorts out who is actually going to swim at races I thought I would post the top X reasons that you should go to a MSO swim meet this year.
1. It's Super Affordable. Registration as an individual is $10 for the season. Signing up for swim meets range in price depending on who is hosting but for the most part they won't break the bank.
2. It's Not Insane. Let's face it - none of us are going to the Olympics at this point in our lives. We are all in the same boat. This is not like a kids meet where there is all the pressure to excel. Seeing a swimmer in their 90's get applauded on their last lap of an event is a sight to behold.
3. The Support. Whether friend or "foe" when you are at a MSO swim meet everyone wants to see you succeed. You set your own goals and whether you hit them or miss there are many people who have been there before and will come up behind you. For every "flub" I've ever had I've had a conversation with someone (usually a teammate) who had the same experience but worse. We smile together and we cry together.
4. It's About You. This ties into the others above but at the end of the day the real competition is the person in the mirror. I remember being all stressed out at my first Masters Meet in Ottawa. As I stood up on the block I realized whether I was first or last the only person it mattered to was me.
5. Quality Product. Masters swimming in Canada started in Ontario and some of the "originals" are still around. The mix of experienced faces and new ones allows for change and stability. The officials are often the same ones that the age group clubs use and the Meet Managers are "one of us". We're all in this together and want to put a best foot forward.
6. It Get You Doing Something. The secret is out.... it is better to be active than not. It's good for the body and its good for the brain. If you have a swim meet coming up then it is also likely you will go to the pool to prepare. Swimming is just about the best sport out there for "Masters" as it is low impact.
7. You Support A Club. Let's call a spade a spade. There is a mess right now in Ontario with Masters Swimming. Chris Smith warned us (and warned us) about the tidal wave that was coming and it is now here. Regardless of what position you take we have friends on both sides and clubs that still want to operate. MSO has made it clear that all swimmers will be welcome to their meets and as such you can support the hosting club and have fun. At some point the dust will settle and everything will become clear but in the meantime we have something that is still working.
8. You Support The "Spirit" Of MSO. This very much ties into #7. MSO is about "FUN, FITNESS & FRIENDSHIP". Again - regardless of where in the mess you fall this is what MSO is about and I think you will find that flavor in all of their swim meets. I think most of the swimmers who have done a MSO meet in the past can honestly say that if they boiled down the reasons they went to that meet "FUN, FITNESS & FRIENDSHIP" was the cornerstone.
9. The Camaraderie. I didn't join Masters Swimming for the people. I wasn't expecting to make friends, much less family. What I quickly found though was that it was a natural by-product of going to the swim meets. I had one teammate looking at our pictures from last season that said "If that's the kind of fun you guys have I just may have to go to one of these meets." I think that's it exactly.
X. The Memories. We get one go on this ride called life. I'd rather have something to reflect upon with joy at the end of it all. My experience is that MSO meets will be a part of that.
Check out the meet schedule here to see if something fits!
https://ms.mastersswimmingontario.ca/web/schedule.php
Until I touch the wall.....
Michael Kenny
Masters Swimmer
Cambridge Mavericks
Marathon Open Water Swimmer
2015-16 Global Swim Series Champion
Contact Info :
F : https://www.facebook.com/swim.diesel
I : https://www.instagram.com/swim.diesel
T : https://twitter.com/SwimDiesel
E : m.j.kenny@swim-diesel.com
+ : google.com/+Swim-diesel
B : 53724F20
1. It's Super Affordable. Registration as an individual is $10 for the season. Signing up for swim meets range in price depending on who is hosting but for the most part they won't break the bank.
2. It's Not Insane. Let's face it - none of us are going to the Olympics at this point in our lives. We are all in the same boat. This is not like a kids meet where there is all the pressure to excel. Seeing a swimmer in their 90's get applauded on their last lap of an event is a sight to behold.
3. The Support. Whether friend or "foe" when you are at a MSO swim meet everyone wants to see you succeed. You set your own goals and whether you hit them or miss there are many people who have been there before and will come up behind you. For every "flub" I've ever had I've had a conversation with someone (usually a teammate) who had the same experience but worse. We smile together and we cry together.
4. It's About You. This ties into the others above but at the end of the day the real competition is the person in the mirror. I remember being all stressed out at my first Masters Meet in Ottawa. As I stood up on the block I realized whether I was first or last the only person it mattered to was me.
5. Quality Product. Masters swimming in Canada started in Ontario and some of the "originals" are still around. The mix of experienced faces and new ones allows for change and stability. The officials are often the same ones that the age group clubs use and the Meet Managers are "one of us". We're all in this together and want to put a best foot forward.
6. It Get You Doing Something. The secret is out.... it is better to be active than not. It's good for the body and its good for the brain. If you have a swim meet coming up then it is also likely you will go to the pool to prepare. Swimming is just about the best sport out there for "Masters" as it is low impact.
7. You Support A Club. Let's call a spade a spade. There is a mess right now in Ontario with Masters Swimming. Chris Smith warned us (and warned us) about the tidal wave that was coming and it is now here. Regardless of what position you take we have friends on both sides and clubs that still want to operate. MSO has made it clear that all swimmers will be welcome to their meets and as such you can support the hosting club and have fun. At some point the dust will settle and everything will become clear but in the meantime we have something that is still working.
8. You Support The "Spirit" Of MSO. This very much ties into #7. MSO is about "FUN, FITNESS & FRIENDSHIP". Again - regardless of where in the mess you fall this is what MSO is about and I think you will find that flavor in all of their swim meets. I think most of the swimmers who have done a MSO meet in the past can honestly say that if they boiled down the reasons they went to that meet "FUN, FITNESS & FRIENDSHIP" was the cornerstone.
9. The Camaraderie. I didn't join Masters Swimming for the people. I wasn't expecting to make friends, much less family. What I quickly found though was that it was a natural by-product of going to the swim meets. I had one teammate looking at our pictures from last season that said "If that's the kind of fun you guys have I just may have to go to one of these meets." I think that's it exactly.
X. The Memories. We get one go on this ride called life. I'd rather have something to reflect upon with joy at the end of it all. My experience is that MSO meets will be a part of that.
Check out the meet schedule here to see if something fits!
https://ms.mastersswimmingontario.ca/web/schedule.php
Until I touch the wall.....
Michael Kenny
Masters Swimmer
Cambridge Mavericks
Marathon Open Water Swimmer
2015-16 Global Swim Series Champion
Contact Info :
F : https://www.facebook.com/swim.diesel
I : https://www.instagram.com/swim.diesel
T : https://twitter.com/SwimDiesel
E : m.j.kenny@swim-diesel.com
+ : google.com/+Swim-diesel
B : 53724F20