Mission Viejo had very good facilities, great weather, superb organization, and the best hosts. Overall a great meet.
However, as commented in another thread, there were lots of no shows. In four of five events I had an empty lane next to me. This is not the best racing environment, and it makes the meet last longer than necessary. I am not critical of the people that did not show up -- I was one of them on Thursday, as an emergency at work made me arrive a day late.
On deck seeding would be a simple and easy solution.
Evidently some people like to know a day or days in advance who will swim in their heat. However, the way it worked for me, I found out as I walked up to the block who would *not* be swimming. *That's* lots of opportunity to get psyched! (not)
I don't think the way this meet was seeded (check in for distance events, advanced seeding for the other events) was a very good compromise. This was my first non-deck seeded masters meet, and I did not enjoy that aspect of it.
Male is a descriptive adjective of me, and 'hot shot' is a noun phrase -- no pejorative adjective there! I wish I could claim hot shot status; hot shots are the ones that can win their events.
Michael speaks well from the standpoint of the officials and volunteers. I speak from the standpoint of a swimmer. I don't travel, spend the money, disrupt my family life, and take days off work to swim in a time trial. I like the competition, and, while it may not be PC in this crowd, I am happier to win with a poor time than lose with a good one. I am always aware of where the person next to me is, but unable to be aware of the person across the pool. Thus, swimming next to someone is more fun than swimming next to an empty lane.
I like to think that the meet I am in is significant and worth the sacrifices I make. It is easier to believe that if I am not next to a lane made empty by someone who did not find it important enough to show up.
A bad implementation of a good idea is still a bad implementation. Of course there should be plenty of well marked places with the heats posted. I also enjoy walking around to find my heats, especially when on the way to one of my many trips to the restroom. Those get especially frequent at race time!
Incidentally, five days is a long time for a meet. If a tighter timeline can make it four days, I think it is a good idea, even if some swimmers are inconvenienced.
Male is a descriptive adjective of me, and 'hot shot' is a noun phrase -- no pejorative adjective there! I wish I could claim hot shot status; hot shots are the ones that can win their events.
Michael speaks well from the standpoint of the officials and volunteers. I speak from the standpoint of a swimmer. I don't travel, spend the money, disrupt my family life, and take days off work to swim in a time trial. I like the competition, and, while it may not be PC in this crowd, I am happier to win with a poor time than lose with a good one. I am always aware of where the person next to me is, but unable to be aware of the person across the pool. Thus, swimming next to someone is more fun than swimming next to an empty lane.
I like to think that the meet I am in is significant and worth the sacrifices I make. It is easier to believe that if I am not next to a lane made empty by someone who did not find it important enough to show up.
A bad implementation of a good idea is still a bad implementation. Of course there should be plenty of well marked places with the heats posted. I also enjoy walking around to find my heats, especially when on the way to one of my many trips to the restroom. Those get especially frequent at race time!
Incidentally, five days is a long time for a meet. If a tighter timeline can make it four days, I think it is a good idea, even if some swimmers are inconvenienced.
