I was planning on heading to Omaha for summer nationals and just noticed that the 400 free, 100 back, 200 free, and 200 IM are all on the same
day - Sunday. I think most folks that swim free also swim back and IM? This is a pretty heavy load for one day. Is this just me and couldn't these events be spread across other days where it would be more evenly spread?
Another option is swimming one or more of your races in a longer event and getting a split request. I've never done it at nationals but I often do it at our state meet where there isn't much time between back-to-back events. I've gotten in a 100 fly at the beginning of a 400 IM and a 200 free at the beginning of the 1,000. You could do your 100 back at the front end of the 200 back and your 200 or 400 free during the 1,000 on distance day. Just make sure of 3 things: swim the remainder of your race legally; enter a seed time that accurately reflects what you'll eventually go for the entire race and notify the officials and the swimmers in the lanes adjacent to you so they don't freak out when you take off at the very beginning.
Another option is swimming one or more of your races in a longer event and getting a split request. I've never done it at nationals but I often do it at our state meet where there isn't much time between back-to-back events. I've gotten in a 100 fly at the beginning of a 400 IM and a 200 free at the beginning of the 1,000. You could do your 100 back at the front end of the 200 back and your 200 or 400 free during the 1,000 on distance day. Just make sure of 3 things: swim the remainder of your race legally; enter a seed time that accurately reflects what you'll eventually go for the entire race and notify the officials and the swimmers in the lanes adjacent to you so they don't freak out when you take off at the very beginning.
