I train to compete. I am fine in training most of the time but lately, the last year or so, my times in meets have gotten quite a bit slower and now I get so anxious before a race that I feel sick. Today I had a SCM meet here I only went to swim the 400 IM. I dry heaved in the corner until they were about to call my heat. How can I get past this? I;m working on getting faster in practice (I'm injured and coming off surgery) but slower in the meets is something that has been lingering and causing the anxiety. Help!
I can relate completely. I have dry heaved in the morning before a meet and my stomach goes bonkers at every meet I have attended as a Masters swimmer. I also had surgery last year... and now this year... I had been really looking forward to my first meet "back" for the longest time and then the night before - I was on the verge of vomiting and had to go to bed early to calm myself down. I agree with the above posts - get out there and talk, find a goofball or be the goofball, stay in the warmup lanes longer, get in a very warm shower before your event, get some awesome tunes on your ipod and jam, work on some slow breathing to calm yourself (breathe in thru your nose and out thru your mouth), meditation... find what works for you. Just keep reminding yourself that you are still recovering and give yourself some time to get thru this. You'll find your groove again, no worries. :)
I can relate completely. I have dry heaved in the morning before a meet and my stomach goes bonkers at every meet I have attended as a Masters swimmer. I also had surgery last year... and now this year... I had been really looking forward to my first meet "back" for the longest time and then the night before - I was on the verge of vomiting and had to go to bed early to calm myself down. I agree with the above posts - get out there and talk, find a goofball or be the goofball, stay in the warmup lanes longer, get in a very warm shower before your event, get some awesome tunes on your ipod and jam, work on some slow breathing to calm yourself (breathe in thru your nose and out thru your mouth), meditation... find what works for you. Just keep reminding yourself that you are still recovering and give yourself some time to get thru this. You'll find your groove again, no worries. :)
