Time Line

Maria, Regardless of whether you will "make it" or not, I would strongly recommend you get that later flight if the 100 free is at all important to you. I have several reasons: 1) Why add the stress right before your last event? If you are thinking about your flight (traffic to the airport, security, la la, la la la la...) instead of your event, do you actually think you will swim well? 2) People who are under this kind of stress have a tendency to lash-out at others who they perceive are to blame for the circumstances they created themselves. "Why did that darn 85 yr old take so darn long to finish the 400?! Why did that darn meet director let the starters take so darn long between heats?! Why is the pool so darn far away from the freeway?!" Etc., etc. etc. I don't know if you are one of those people, but regardless, give yourself the luxury of being able to be kind. 3) Speaking for myself, I want to savor every minute of my Nationals experience when I make the trip. I want to be able to chit-chat with my buddies, old and new, after the last event, get my splits, pick up any awards I luck into, maybe even have a fun Sunday evening with others who are not leaving until Monday. Last year three of us had dinner at the top of the Space Needle on Sunday eve. The last thing I want is to have cut everything short to go charging off to the airport. If you can stay until Monday morning, that is the "A" answer in my book. If not, at least take a mid-evening flight. The rest of your life will still be there when you get back. Give yourself the gift of being mentally at Nationals, and no place else, while Nationals are in progress. Matt

I'll do my best to change my flight, but I do have to work Monday. Sylvia, I wouldn't want you to be too lonely in the 100 free. Now if the 100 fly were on Sunday I wouldn't mind as much (ouch on the old, sore shoulders) :cool:

I have a related question -- I'm interested to find out what the anticipated finish time is each day in Cleveland (I'm assuming the meet organizers have a rough idea of this, since they would have needed this information to invoke the 6th event rule). I am bringing my husband and 2 kids with me and would like to know whether we will be able to go out for family dinners together in the evenings. I recall from participating in the Baltimore LC nats that we did not finish until around 9:30pm each evening, and am hoping that with the lower attendance Cleveland will be much earlier. Would appreciate a response from the meet organizers on this. Thanks! PS - Maria, hope to see you in the 100 free - I should be in the lane right beside you!!:)

The end of competition each day for the Long Course Nationals in Cleveland without the sixth event is as follows assuming a heat interval of 45 seconds, no equipment problems and that everyone checks in and swims: Thursday: 10:33 pm Friday: 9:04 pm Saturday: 7:54 pm Sunday: 5:29 pm If we get the typical number of scratches (11% for women and 16% for men; note that Hawaii was about 9% and 14%) we will save about an hour a day and about two hours on the distance day. We are going to try a few things to speed up the interval between heats. Saving just 15 seconds between each heat adds up to 30 to 45 minutes per day. --Barry Fasbender, Championship Committee Chair

Barry, Based on your reply, one can assume that the timeline is that we will be running from one starting end and no fly overs. Since I cannot imagine that there will be 45 sec between heats from one end at a National Championship, when the decision is made to go from both ends of the competitive course and use chase starts or one end with fly overs, could you let us know asap. I would like to inform my swimmers, before they arrive in Cleveland, so that they will have a clear understanding of what is expected of them . Thanks, Bill T

No, I don't swim the 400 IM but promised to cheer on a friend who does (male ... so after the women swim, nice and late). I have to be at the pool by 7 am on Saturday to check in for the 100 fly. Guess it looks like my $60 will go to waste.

Hey Maria, are you staying an hour away from the pool or something? Swing by the social afterwards, you will be surprised. Just come in for some fellowship (think of all these people who want to meet the author of all these posts you have been leaving!). You don't have to stay 2 hours or anything. Come relax and then go back and sweet dreams until the next morning.

Isn't the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame social on Friday (or do I have my days mixed up)? If so, 9 pm is a little late to be ending, get to the social, and be in bed early enough if you have an early event on Saturday morning, isn't it? (Or am I just being a party pooper ... ) :confused:

Maria: For those not swimming the 400 IM there should be plenty of time to enjoy the Social and get back early enough for a good night's sleep. Another reason not to swim the 400 IM LCM.

All of you are talking like you have seen a timeline. Is it online and I am missing it, or what? I have seen the check-in times and that is it.:confused: