Thank you everyone here that has provided advice to me and others as I approach my first meet Sunday. I did some light warm up. Some med pace 50s then a few 25's. and ended with getting up on the blocks and doing some free back and *** starts. I noted I dropped about 3 sec on 25's on the br w the blocks and was about 2-3 on the fr. Excited for Sunday!!
Former Member
Just wanted to wish you good luck!! Have fun on Sunday. :banana:
swimark has a very good point above - I too was surprised how fast they move the heats along. You can take a pen and write your heat and lane on your hand or arm for quick reference.
And watch to figure out what the starter's whistle blasts mean, too.
swimark has a very good point above - I too was surprised how fast they move the heats along. You can take a pen and write your heat and lane on your hand or arm for quick reference.
Good Luck! I may or may not be swimming once I get there, we'll see how the injury is progressing, I'll be cheering you on if I'm not in your heats.
Another tip, especially for Backstroke starts, they may open a lane during warmup for starts only, Try one backstroke start just to get the feel of the wall, there's no need to take 10 practice starts. Oh yeah, at my first meet i didn't realize you can not curl your toes over the edge of the gutter for backstroke starts, until about two minutes be fore my race. Feet must be on the wall and underwater.
Look forward to meeting you!
Mike
When the heat sheets are up a good idea is to make a timeline by adding the faster (cusion factor) seeds up and highlight the heats you're in. Then make a schedule of warmups, cooldowns, and when you need to be suited up and ready. As mentioned before, I get a sharpie and tattoo my arm with each event#, heat and lane (6 7 3 = event 6, heat 7, lane 3)
Good luck and take it easy
Maybe this was covered in an earlier post, if not be sure you know the number of strokes from the flags to the wall in backstroke. For me three if I am going into a turn and four at the finish.
Earlier this year I was trying different things with my starts. One meet I did all pool starts. Another meet I did all my starts from the deck. I just wanted to see how much, if any I would gain/lose by various starting methods. Today after my workout I did starts for about 15 minutes. I included backstroke starts too. Tomorrow, as I call it, the "Big Bang (Theory) Pentathlon". (CalTech in Pasadena, CA).
Swim With Mike
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