Tomorrow morning is my very first swim meet. I'm very nervous but it was time for me to finally see what I could do in competition versus practice. There are so many things that can go wrong like forgetting to exhale well under water, running out of steam during my 100 free, forgetting stoke mechanics, diving too deep, etc. I don't care how i do compared to others, I'm competing with myself. I always imagined my race times would be faster than my practice times and I know i will be very disappointed if that's not the case. Any words of advice on how to mentally approach this wold be greatly appreciated. Like you wet the bed in your first meet but it got better in subsequent meets:D.
One other question; how do I control the depth of my dive on entry. I rarely every get to practice dives because our pool doesn't allow dives off the blocks unless with the team/coach. So I can only practice it off the pool edge (my masters team doesn't do much start practice). Should I arch my back on head and trunk entry or angle my hands up? If I dive too deep (I hardly have a superb dolphin kick to compensate), I'm toast. It's pretty much hit or miss with me now.
Thanks.
Thank you, I see what you mean by the shoot going out of the water. I'll be careful about that. And I should be looking down on my breaths, I often forget.
Incidentally, I was wondering...do these meet results show up on the US Swimming web site? I was hoping it would be a nice organizer for me to track my progress, like it is for my kids. Or are only certain meets, like zones, US swimming sanctioned? Or maybe I need to join US Swimming?
Good swimming! You can watch this page to see what meets have been recently added to the results database.
Good swimming! You can watch this page to see what meets have been recently added to the results database.
Thank you.
Yeah, I just realized that US Swimming might not track USMS events. The USMS site is fine, but I like the point and letter system they have on US swimming.
Don't know much about it. Is that a regional meet? Do you have to qualify?
You don't have to qualify and it's at George Mason. It's so close that you are expected to be there! :bolt: And I bet you will easily beat your 100 IM time. Remember that rotation in the back. As for the back being the most important, I don't agree. My back is my weakest stroke, hands down. Yet I do fairly well in the 400 IM. I hand in there with the fly, lose some ground with back and catch up in *** to bring it home with the free.
In a few years, you will be coming to this meet with your son. Jr Champs is a USA-S meet (so you'd have to join USA-S) where you just have to swim "no faster than". What about Albatross, are you going to that one?
When and where is that? I may jus do the Zones meet as I'm actually off that weekend. I saw the times from last year, pretty much all strong swimmers. It will be a good lesson in humility for me, lol.
Thank you.
Yeah, I just realized that US Swimming might not track USMS events. The USMS site is fine, but I like the point and letter system they have on US swimming.
Do you want one of your events to count for USA-S? Come to Jr Champs this summer and swim with me! :)
Just remember that it is just a race, and that you will have many more. As a lifelong competitive swimmer, I have learned that if you are nervous it will only affect you negatively. Do not really focus on what is coming up, you have already put all the work in, now you just need to perform. If you have been practicing well, it will pay off. Do not get discouraged if you do no do well, it happens to many swimmers when they are in season. Wait until you rest, you will drop loads of time. The most important thing is to just stay calm and do what you know how to do. :)
Do you want one of your events to count for USA-S? Come to Jr Champs this summer and swim with me! :)
As a noob, I have no idea what that is, lol. But my appetite is wet now for more meets, so give me the details.
If people don't mind I would like to take more underwater footage of myself for analysis, all strokes. My goal is to qualify for a national USMS meet in the next couple years.
When and where is that? I may jus do the Zones meet as I'm actually off that weekend. I saw the times from last year, pretty much all strong swimmers. It will be a good lesson in humility for me, lol.
Jr/Sr Champs are usually at UMD around mid-July. They are LCM and a great way to get more LC meets in.
I hope to see you at zones.
Underwater video is fine, I would like to see it. Work at what happens on the top also. Dives and turns very important. A second or two here and there and you will surprise yourself. Work on entry of your right arm in the freestyle. Cean up your arm entry on the fly. It seems to me you are pushing water in the wrong direction as your arms are slamming into the water.
I really liked the potential of your strokes - a few corrections will mean lots of time gained.
Thanks George, will do. I really value your input. BTW, what is my right arm doing on entry and how should I improve it?
As a noob, I have no idea what that is, lol. But my appetite is wet now for more meets, so give me the details.
If people don't mind I would like to take more underwater footage of myself for analysis, all strokes. My goal is to qualify for a national USMS meet in the next couple years.
In a few years, you will be coming to this meet with your son. Jr Champs is a USA-S meet (so you'd have to join USA-S) where you just have to swim "no faster than". What about Albatross, are you going to that one?
