I'm guilty of it. I imagine we're all guilty of it: seeing a meet announcement and seeing our favorite two events back to back, or four events we want to swim on one day and then only 1 then next day. We get irritated and wonder why the meet director couldn't have designed this to better suit our needs? We moan at workout, whine on the forums, ***** on our blogs, etc. I'd like to encourage my fellow forumites to join me in taking a pledge:
I hereby pledge to:
just be grateful that there are volunteers, teams and facilities willing to host Masters meets,
recognize that no matter how hard these dedicated volunteers try, they'll never be able to create the order of events that satisfies all Masters swimmer,
recognize that, even if I can't swim those two favorite events in this meet because they are back to back (or whatever my complaint is), I've got a multi-decade Masters career ahead of me in which to swim them at different meets,
to, therefore, stop whining/moaning about the order of events, and
look at a different order of events as an opportunity to branch out and try new events!
Signed,
Patrick "Indebted to Masters Meet Directors/Officials/Volunteers" Brundage
I can't figure out why anyone would ever whine about order of events. Most meets cram every single event available into 2 days. Some put the distance events the day before or the week before. Given that, it is basically inevitable there will be back to back events or back to back to back events that you want to swim. That's the way it is so there's really no point in getting agitated about it. If you are a one trick pony you make the situation worse for yourself, which brings us full circle to the beauty of the 200 back.
Most masters meets I've ever been to, besides the LMSC Champs meets, cram everything into one day. I actually prefer that as well, 'cause it's cheaper on the $$$$ for one travel day over and back vs. multiple days with hotels/food/etc. Plus, the multiple day meets don't really take up the whole day, and there is a lot of wasted time in the day...what do you do? Go sit in the hotel? I'd rather be back at home after a day of competing.
Just pick events that will be spaced evenly enough, and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. I always swim the maximum allowed at a meet, even if it means I'll be tired going into races. It's not that bad. :)
I can't figure out why anyone would ever whine about order of events. Most meets cram every single event available into 2 days. Some put the distance events the day before or the week before. Given that, it is basically inevitable there will be back to back events or back to back to back events that you want to swim. That's the way it is so there's really no point in getting agitated about it. If you are a one trick pony you make the situation worse for yourself, which brings us full circle to the beauty of the 200 back.
Most masters meets I've ever been to, besides the LMSC Champs meets, cram everything into one day. I actually prefer that as well, 'cause it's cheaper on the $$$$ for one travel day over and back vs. multiple days with hotels/food/etc. Plus, the multiple day meets don't really take up the whole day, and there is a lot of wasted time in the day...what do you do? Go sit in the hotel? I'd rather be back at home after a day of competing.
Just pick events that will be spaced evenly enough, and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. I always swim the maximum allowed at a meet, even if it means I'll be tired going into races. It's not that bad. :)
