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?
So glad I entered the meet though, it really was a lot of fun ... just do it, you'll love it!
Well done, Pete! Glad you had fun! Are you looking forward to the next one?
Ok, as promised I have returned with my results, I swam at the Mission Viejo Masters Meet, times are short course meters:
50 Free 27.7? - 4th place
100 Free 103.14 - 3rd place
100 IM 1:12.94 - 2nd place
I had guessed at all my seeded times, and I went faster in all my races. I felt a lot stronger than I thought I would, so I am really happy. So glad I entered the meet though, it really was a lot of fun. Those of you who are debating whether or not to go to a meet, just do it, you'll love it!
Yes, I am definitely looking forward to the next meet, I'm signing up for one in two weeks. I will say that I am really looking forward to short course yards, but racing is racing. I have a lot of room for improvement as I was much faster back in the day. And while I have come to terms that I will never be that fast, I really enjoy the excitement of a meet.
What is an appropriate warmup?
The best advice I've ever gotten about warmups is,
The purpose of a warmup is to prepare you, physically and psychologically, to race!
When your warmup is done, the next thing you are going to do, is dive in and swim your race. When you are physically and psychologically ready to do that, then your warmup is done.
There are probably as many different warmups as there are athletes. Personally, I like to swim 200-300 easy free, 200-300 easy back, a couple hundred ***, and some fly drills. Then I do some pace 50s, depending on what race I'm swimming. When I feel like I am physically and psychologically ready to race, I get out of the water. I like to get out at least 20-30 minutes before the race. YMMV.
So, is it okay to wear just a random polyester suit?
This is a much better choice than that old paper suit for yesteryear in the back of the swim bag. :afraid:
:D
So, is it okay to wear just a random polyester suit?
And...
What is an appropriate warmup? swimming about 2500 3xweek at this point, will be racing only sprints. My favorite in the past was a 500 fr then 400 IM drill/kick/drill/swim, 2-3 50's and a couple 25's (12.5 AFAP, 12.5 recovery), 2-3 starts and then another 100-200 right before each race but that seems a touch long.
So, is it okay to wear just a random polyester suit?
That's what I've done in my two meets so far (both small, local meets) and it's been totally fine. The range of suits I've seen has been from regular workout suits to the short john style for women/jammers for men.
This is a much better choice than that old paper suit for yesteryear in the back of the swim bag. :afraid:
:D
Not sure I agree. It could be fine to dig an old aqua blade from 2002 out of whatever Goodwill or landfill it ended up in, pull it on and then walk around with it around my ankles because THAT is as far as I could pull up something from my twenties.
