So, I'm going to Nationals this summer. It will be my first meet... ever. I know I'm a really slow swimmer (part of that comes from being 5'2") and will likely be the slowest one in my events.
But I still want to do it!:D
I'm swimming 50 ***, 100 ***, and 50 free. I had to take 2mo off this spring because our van broke and it took us a while to get it fixed, so I wasn't able to swim from mid-March to mid-May. I'm back in the water now and am building up my training to swimming 5 days a week (in another week our Masters group will be meeting 5:30-7a M-F). Right now we're swimming short course still but when we switch our schedule, we'll be switching pools and swimming long course.
I had to time myself last week so I'd have my seed times for registration. In the past week I've already taken 6sec off my 50 *** - which, I think, is pretty good progress.
I'm not expecting to win my heats or get any awesome times at Nationals, but I'm super excited to be going and am anxious to see how much I've improved my own times.
Has anyone else been the slowest swimmer out there before? Any tips on staying positive? :blush:
While I agree most people at masters meets are positive, there are a few who aren't.
I've only done 1 USMS nationals, back when my team hosted it in 2003. After my 2nd event, the 200 yard ***, I was chatting with another guy in the warm-down pool. He asked me what my time was. I don't even remember the time, but it was good for me, and I don't think I was last in my heat. After I told him, he said, "it's people like you who make these meets so long." Mind you, this was after helping with timing, running around on deck, pretty much whatever my coaches asked. I ended up scratching my last event.
That comment turned me off from meets for over 7 years. I finally got back to swimming some meets 2 years ago, and everyone was very positive.
But I've decided I'll never do another national meet, unless I can qualify for at least one event. I purposely planned a weekend out of town last year when nationals was back in the area.
While 99% of masters swimmers are positive and encouraging, it is that 1% who can be especially harsh.
While I agree most people at masters meets are positive, there are a few who aren't.
I've only done 1 USMS nationals, back when my team hosted it in 2003. After my 2nd event, the 200 yard ***, I was chatting with another guy in the warm-down pool. He asked me what my time was. I don't even remember the time, but it was good for me, and I don't think I was last in my heat. After I told him, he said, "it's people like you who make these meets so long." Mind you, this was after helping with timing, running around on deck, pretty much whatever my coaches asked. I ended up scratching my last event.
That comment turned me off from meets for over 7 years. I finally got back to swimming some meets 2 years ago, and everyone was very positive.
But I've decided I'll never do another national meet, unless I can qualify for at least one event. I purposely planned a weekend out of town last year when nationals was back in the area.
While 99% of masters swimmers are positive and encouraging, it is that 1% who can be especially harsh.
