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!
Wow, I didn't realize you were going thru this; my sympathies, it doesn't sound like very much fun. I have been having the opposite problem the last couple of years -- having trouble getting "up" enough for races -- and I wish we could average our two responses, we might both swim faster! :-)
A certain amount of anxiety is a good thing of course (arguably I am "suffering" from its lack right now) but obviously not too much. I guess back when I was more anxious about races I basically focused on the fact that I love the journey -- training, being fit, socializing with other masters swimmers -- as much as the racing, so even if the race doesn't turn out the way I hope there is still a lot to be happy about.
It sounds to me like you've done all the necessary training; lots of good ideas on this thread, I especially like Adam's. I also really like the idea of doing off events for awhile, you'll retain the racing experience and get to hang out with friends but swim in non-threatening events. Back when I was in college, in dual meets I was often put in the 200 free and I loved it because it wasn't one of my "real" events, I could even play around with different race strategies without worrying about the effect on my time. And yet because I was relaxed about the outcome I tended to do pretty well.
I've heard that there are two types of ways of preparing mentally for races (I'm sure there is more than that): one is to visualize success in lots of detail and concentrate on what it will feel like to achieve it, and another is to visualize failure and think about doing all you can to avoid it. I am definitely in the former camp but I've heard of successful athletes who do the latter (I think I remember reading that Rowdy Gaines was like this). Put crudely, there are some athletes who swim to win and others who swim to avoid losing.
Wow, I didn't realize you were going thru this; my sympathies, it doesn't sound like very much fun. I have been having the opposite problem the last couple of years -- having trouble getting "up" enough for races -- and I wish we could average our two responses, we might both swim faster! :-)
A certain amount of anxiety is a good thing of course (arguably I am "suffering" from its lack right now) but obviously not too much. I guess back when I was more anxious about races I basically focused on the fact that I love the journey -- training, being fit, socializing with other masters swimmers -- as much as the racing, so even if the race doesn't turn out the way I hope there is still a lot to be happy about.
It sounds to me like you've done all the necessary training; lots of good ideas on this thread, I especially like Adam's. I also really like the idea of doing off events for awhile, you'll retain the racing experience and get to hang out with friends but swim in non-threatening events. Back when I was in college, in dual meets I was often put in the 200 free and I loved it because it wasn't one of my "real" events, I could even play around with different race strategies without worrying about the effect on my time. And yet because I was relaxed about the outcome I tended to do pretty well.
I've heard that there are two types of ways of preparing mentally for races (I'm sure there is more than that): one is to visualize success in lots of detail and concentrate on what it will feel like to achieve it, and another is to visualize failure and think about doing all you can to avoid it. I am definitely in the former camp but I've heard of successful athletes who do the latter (I think I remember reading that Rowdy Gaines was like this). Put crudely, there are some athletes who swim to win and others who swim to avoid losing.
