I am trying to figure out a fourth event to add to my nationals entry. I swim Fly, Breaststroke, and IM, and my 3 best events are 50 and 100 BR and 100 IM. I have not swum a 200 since starting Masters.
From the order of events, 100 fly is out so I can focus on my 50 BR. 100 IM and BR are already closer than I would like, but that's my day 2. I could do 50 FR but I'd be spent.
That leaves Day 3, and either 50 Fly, 200 BR, or 100 Free. With my best effforts, I'd be in a battle for last in all 3 of these. I'll go under 30 in fly and probably just under a minute in the free. The 200 Br is the wild card. I want to swim this in the future, but I have not had the time to train like I wanted this winter, so I'm not quite where I want to be. I go around 3 minutes in practice (from push, mid work-out), but I am pretty sure I'd be 2:50 or better.
The other option is to just swim my 3 events and relax and/or volunteer on Sunday, which I'm not so opposed to, either.
Advice?
The 200 *** is probably the event you'd be most likely to place top ten in, if that's a consideration. It will also set a nice baseline for you if you plan to swim the event in the future.
200 breaststroke; misery loves company! :cheerleader: As a breaststroke sprinter, my races get progressively worse as the yard count climbs... :afraid:
If you can go 3:00 in practice you can probably go 2:45 in a meet if you shave and taper.You want to swim the 200 BR eventually,so go for it.If I waited until I was trained enough to swim the 200 BR I'd wait until I was 22 and in college again.Swim the 200 BR,keep your stroke smooth and build into it and you will surprise yourself.
The 200 *** is probably the event you'd be most likely to place top ten in, if that's a consideration. It will also set a nice baseline for you if you plan to swim the event in the future.
I don't know what age group Jimbosback is in, but in my age group the NQT is about 2:34 and it doesn't change that much until you get into age groups 20+ years further along. I know there's some sort of correlation between NQT and Top 10.
But that certainly shouldn't discourage him from swimming it. The 200 *** is one of my favorite events...especially LCM :banana:
(and I can safely say that I'm nowhere near Top 10).
The 200 *** is one of my favorite events...especially LCM :banana:
Are you sure the sun over the years hasn't got to you??? :D 200 LCM *** is one of the most evil events ever made.
I don't know what age group Jimbosback is in, but in my age group the NQT is about 2:34 and it doesn't change that much until you get into age groups 20+ years further along. I know there's some sort of correlation between NQT and Top 10.
Yes, but in my experience the stroke 200s tend to be slightly easier to place in. OK, this might be a perception thing since I like longer events. The other factor is it in the middle of the day on Sunday. Events also tend to be easier to score in toward the end of the meet.
I'm 40-44 and certainly not in danger of beating anybody. All my best times would put me at the rear of the pack in all these events. This is all for the experience and to set some training goals. Last year's nationals was a lot of fun, and I was pretty nervous about being there. I am thinking this year will be more fun, since I won't be nervous at all. My brain is saying 50 fly, but my heart says 200 ***.
Thanks for all the opinions. I want to register before the early deadline, so I'll decide soon.
