Any thoughts? From my perspective, former swimmer, back for about a month, I'd REALLY like to swim a few meets. How did you choose? When were you ready? How did you choose events? How did it go?
Also, maybe some commentary on those who have no competitive swimming background. How did you prepare?
Any thoughts? From my perspective, former swimmer, back for about a month, I'd REALLY like to swim a few meets. How did you choose? When were you ready? How did you choose events? How did it go?
Also, maybe some commentary on those who have no competitive swimming background. How did you prepare?
I did my first USMS meet back in Aug 1998. I started swimming with a masters group in I believe April 1998, so I had been swimming with the team for about 3 months.
Other than a couple of triathlons and playing water polo in college (a club team), I had never even been on a swim team before. I was living in Tucson, hated my job, joined the masters team as stress relief, and it worked very well. I was coming to Phoenix that weekend anyway, so since the meet was going on, I just went and did 2 events, 200 LCM free and 100 LCM ***.
Our coach tapered the whole team for all of the meets, and the taper included working on block starts.
I just remember diving into the pool and swimming...didn't see anyone at all near me. I turned at the 50 and could see others coming. Then I turned at the 100...and that last 100 was a real struggle. I knew nothing about pacing and took that first 100 way too fast.
My 100 *** was much better.
Since my team had to travel to the meet (it is about a 2 hour drive), there were just a handful of people there and they were all encouraging. I'll never forget how my coach came over after my 200 and said, "that would have been a great 100."
I've had a love/hate relationship with meets over the years. For a while I was doing 3-4 a year, then had a bad experience when I swam at USMS nationals, I think in 2003, and took several years off from meets (but not from swimming). I dabbled in some open water events, and added in running and lifting weights.
I now try to do a couple of meets a year (2-3), a few open water events, as well as events in other sports that I do (running and cycling). I treat the meets more as a guide on how I'm improving--or not--over time. Unless there's some fluke and only 9 other guys in my age group end up doing an event, I'll never get a Top 10. But perhaps some day, I'll get a National Qualifying Time in something.
Generally I've found that meets are a great experience and masters swimmers are very welcoming and encouraging.
Any thoughts? From my perspective, former swimmer, back for about a month, I'd REALLY like to swim a few meets. How did you choose? When were you ready? How did you choose events? How did it go?
Also, maybe some commentary on those who have no competitive swimming background. How did you prepare?
I did my first USMS meet back in Aug 1998. I started swimming with a masters group in I believe April 1998, so I had been swimming with the team for about 3 months.
Other than a couple of triathlons and playing water polo in college (a club team), I had never even been on a swim team before. I was living in Tucson, hated my job, joined the masters team as stress relief, and it worked very well. I was coming to Phoenix that weekend anyway, so since the meet was going on, I just went and did 2 events, 200 LCM free and 100 LCM ***.
Our coach tapered the whole team for all of the meets, and the taper included working on block starts.
I just remember diving into the pool and swimming...didn't see anyone at all near me. I turned at the 50 and could see others coming. Then I turned at the 100...and that last 100 was a real struggle. I knew nothing about pacing and took that first 100 way too fast.
My 100 *** was much better.
Since my team had to travel to the meet (it is about a 2 hour drive), there were just a handful of people there and they were all encouraging. I'll never forget how my coach came over after my 200 and said, "that would have been a great 100."
I've had a love/hate relationship with meets over the years. For a while I was doing 3-4 a year, then had a bad experience when I swam at USMS nationals, I think in 2003, and took several years off from meets (but not from swimming). I dabbled in some open water events, and added in running and lifting weights.
I now try to do a couple of meets a year (2-3), a few open water events, as well as events in other sports that I do (running and cycling). I treat the meets more as a guide on how I'm improving--or not--over time. Unless there's some fluke and only 9 other guys in my age group end up doing an event, I'll never get a Top 10. But perhaps some day, I'll get a National Qualifying Time in something.
Generally I've found that meets are a great experience and masters swimmers are very welcoming and encouraging.
