pre-meet jitters

RE: pre-meet jitters

Former Member — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:05:16 GMT

Thanks for the replies everyone! I feel a little more relaxed this evening. My gear is all ready to go and all of my 5 kids have somewhere to go or someone to look after them so we don't have to have any tag-alongs. :D I'm looking forward to my 50 FR tomorrow - I feel like I'll get a 'real' time on it. My only other recorded SCY time is from last July and I totally flipped too early on my turn and almost didn't touch the wall. So I was left to continue from nearly a dead stop after the turn and came in just under 38 seconds. :doh: I've worked hard on my butterfly through the fall/winter season, so I'm hoping I improved on that as well. And, now that I've corrected my breaststroke kick, it will be interesting to see if my time goes up or down on that one. I usually feel calm enough once I'm at the meet and it comes time to race - the more relaxed I am and the more fun I'm having, the better I swim. So, hopefully, this will be a laid back meet. :cool: I'm really hoping this meet goes well and that I'll feel even better when I go to my next one in two weeks. I'm hoping to add a couple new events at that one - maybe a longer distance (400 or 800 - it's SCM) or an IM. Good luck and have fun! You'll do great. :cheerleader:

RE: pre-meet jitters

Water Rat — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:19:42 GMT

I get extremely nervous and sick to my stomach especially before my first event of the meet. The trick is to convert it into energy and not let it exhaust you. I do care how I place but I more care about PB's. In my mind, failure to drop time means I'm getting old!

RE: pre-meet jitters

Allen Stark — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:15:06 GMT

It is amazing how destructive that little voice in the back of your head can be.I don't think I have ever gotten ready for a meet without at some point feeling that I'd embarrass myself or "let everyone down." I know that is ridiculous, but it happens none the less.Sometimes you just have to tell that part of your mind to "shut up."

RE: pre-meet jitters

tigerchik — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:59:50 GMT

I think I have fairly normal amounts of anxiety pre swim. It's a lot worse for me before a run or a triathlon (with running the worst of the three). I've raced enough in the pool that it's a very safe, comfy space. I swim at a college pool and most often have a lane to myself, and I dislike warmup with so many people. I get anxious and nervous around lots of people, but that's unrelated to swimming... If I start to get super nervous I just remind myself that unless you're Lance, no one actually cares what your time is :-)

RE: pre-meet jitters

Elaine Krugman — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:55:10 GMT

RE: pre-meet jitters

Former Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:56:34 GMT

I've gotten less nervous with each meet. I find that it's helpful to have a scapegoat to blame for whatever slate of events I've entered (of my own free will). I use James for that. :bolt:

RE: pre-meet jitters

Former Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:13:47 GMT

Being nervous means you care about doing your best, which is a good thing. In my spotty swimming career, the more anxious I felt before a race, the better I did.

RE: pre-meet jitters

mlabresh — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:23:52 GMT

RE: pre-meet jitters

jaadams1 — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:22:39 GMT

I thought you were trying a new type of drop taper, you should be good and rested with that vacation of yours! Seriously though i am sure you will do great because you have a great aerobic base. Not sure about you and Chowmi's tactics though. That sounds like a really really painful way to swim either the 500 or the 200 fly, but it sure would be fun to watch! 200 Fly will be more planning than gung-ho this weekend. I'll play it by ear when the time comes. I'm sure my base will carry me pretty well, and since I've got over my early week sickness I may be just fine.

RE: pre-meet jitters

knelson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:19:02 GMT

I get a bit antsy before a 400 IM for some reason. It is a scary event at times, and I tend to take it out fast, so it's always in the back of my head that there's a chance of failure upcoming... Same with me for the 400 IM. When it hurts it can hurt BAD.

RE: pre-meet jitters

rxleakem — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:37:08 GMT

I use James for that. :bolt: Same here! Seriously, just remember to relax as much as possible, try to visualize your race ahead of swimming it (feel of the water after the start, speed into the turns, strong finish, etc), then have fun zooming through the water! :cheerleader:

RE: pre-meet jitters

StewartACarroll — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:32:59 GMT

I'm heading into my LMSC Champs meet tomorrow with barely being back in the water after nearly 2 weeks out of the pool with my vacation. Granted, I'm not exactly using this as my end of season meet, but I still want to perform well. Knowing that I'm not in the greatest shape endurance-wise may make my a little less trigger-happy on the throttle control, though it would be good to video my 200 Fly and just go all out on it from the get-go like Chowmi was mentioning on her 500 Free. I thought you were trying a new type of drop taper, you should be good and rested with that vacation of yours! Seriously though i am sure you will do great because you have a great aerobic base. Not sure about you and Chowmi's tactics though. That sounds like a really really painful way to swim either the 500 or the 200 fly, but it sure would be fun to watch!

RE: pre-meet jitters

jaadams1 — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:00:37 GMT

I've gotten less nervous with each meet. I find that it's helpful to have a scapegoat to blame for whatever slate of events I've entered (of my own free will). I use James for that. :bolt: HA! I get nervous myself at meets. Depending mostly on what my first event of the meet is. I get a bit antsy before a 400 IM for some reason. It is a scary event at times, and I tend to take it out fast, so it's always in the back of my head that there's a chance of failure upcoming... I don't fear getting beat by others, it happens to everyone. THough I try my darndest not to get beat too. :) I'm heading into my LMSC Champs meet tomorrow with barely being back in the water after nearly 2 weeks out of the pool with my vacation. Granted, I'm not exactly using this as my end of season meet, but I still want to perform well. Knowing that I'm not in the greatest shape endurance-wise may make my a little less trigger-happy on the throttle control, though it would be good to video my 200 Fly and just go all out on it from the get-go like Chowmi was mentioning on her 500 Free.

RE: pre-meet jitters

jethro — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:09:48 GMT

I always worry that I'll make some boneheaded mental error that will cost me time, like mis-timing a flip turn. Usually I'm fine after my first event and I can relax and focus more, so I try to swim an event I really don't care much about first, or a longer one that has more margin for error. :D

RE: pre-meet jitters

Jimbosback — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:03:30 GMT

Since I swim very few meets, I get nrevous that I will make a little mistake, like diving too deep, that will mess up my time. I am also sure that one day I will mis-count my 200 BR and either stop after #6 or turn on #8. :-) I am usualy able to settle down once I am behind the blocks. I try and turn the nrevous energy into focus.

RE: pre-meet jitters

__steve__ — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 02:29:31 GMT

The jitters can make or break me. I am slowly shifting to the "make"