My team, Rockwall Aquatic Masters is having a long course meet on 6th July and I am actively trying to convince team mates to sign up. On my blog I was describing my disappointment that more of my team mates had not signed up. One commenter posted the following, "Why do they have to participate? I have more fun going to practice than I do meets. I don't find meets fun anymore." I guess I had assumed that most people enjoy meets and I found it strange that my team mates did not want to sign up. This got me thinking and I wondered why people compete or don't compete? Any thoughts?
I just did my first ever meet. Not just masters, as in I truly didn't learn how to swim (what I did before couldn't really be called swimming, more like less likely to drown) until last year. I started out doing pretty well within the rec center and then had a buddy, member of USMS, talk to me about it. I then joined up, this is my first year. After doing several of the fitness events and loving them, I started looking at other ways to challenge myself. Fitness will always be a part of swimming. However, this is just a new facet of it. The meet this weekend helped me (and will my coach) into strategies for the next meet, and how this fits into new ways to improve. I bet a lot of people don't look at reinventing the wheel, so that you don't grow old and stale with what you used to be. I wanted to address a few of the items I pulled from posts:
Encouragement and support. I got this in DROVES at the Colonies' Zone Meet this weekend. From the meet admin, down to other swimmers. Not just swimming in a pool that Lochte and Phelps were in, which was fabulous, but picking up hints/tips from people who've been there, done that, and what to look at. My Coach does stuff, but here is also a chance for a new pair of eyes to see how I am on my own. That alone was worth every penny I spent.
All different ability levels. This is what I was afraid of. I said I would never enter a meet months ago. Then I read and found out, hmmm I'm not seeded against 35 second 50m free people. These people aren't looking at me like I'm loser. They gave me something for being my age and doing this for the first time, by myself, away from home. I actually said something about being put in with the slower crew, requested it. It did make me feel better mentally. I found that very helpful.
As for speed, I'm racing against me. I blew my 50m fly time out the ballpark. My last 50m free timed in the only LCM pool I was in, used to, was more than 10 seconds slower than what I did at the met. My 100 free was another story, LOL. Again, I am learning how to pace myself and what I need to work on. I'll get faster, and I might get slower. However, life isn't always about speed.
Social activities. They had one of these there, but going by myself, I didn't attend. I had a 1.5 to 2 hour drive home, so that made a big difference for me. If I stayed at a hotel or the like, then it would be different.
Fun events. Now here is something that would fun to do.
Interest in training. I find that those who are interested in a meet are more consistent in attending training. Granted I can see it both ways.
Everyone seeing how you do, how you perform. The thing is, I'm not that good at all. I have done well but it was the other swimmers helping you to see how you do, how you perform, and giving you help & support. The question I have, is do you want to be the best you can be? If so, that means you blow up sometimes. Learn from the experience. Yes, its in front of people, but you know what, they have done the same thing.
It's not medals that matter, nor even times, but having fun and challenging yourself to do something active. This is true. Although I have to say, my one piece of bling from this weekend will carry me though a lot. In 18 months, I've gone from someone afraid to put my face in the water to diving off a block and doing a 50m fly in front of others, in my 40's. That one medal is a symbol of the courage to conquer fears, to persevere in the face of adversity (I'm missing part of my digestive system & its sort of trashed right now, so I'm not as strong as I could be), to take a risk (coming off the block for fly I tend to hoose up) in front of others. All of which was done by myself and a bit drive from home. Lets face it - a lot of people aren't willing to get out of the boat, even if it is to walk on water.
I just did my first ever meet. Not just masters, as in I truly didn't learn how to swim (what I did before couldn't really be called swimming, more like less likely to drown) until last year. I started out doing pretty well within the rec center and then had a buddy, member of USMS, talk to me about it. I then joined up, this is my first year. After doing several of the fitness events and loving them, I started looking at other ways to challenge myself. Fitness will always be a part of swimming. However, this is just a new facet of it. The meet this weekend helped me (and will my coach) into strategies for the next meet, and how this fits into new ways to improve. I bet a lot of people don't look at reinventing the wheel, so that you don't grow old and stale with what you used to be. I wanted to address a few of the items I pulled from posts:
Encouragement and support. I got this in DROVES at the Colonies' Zone Meet this weekend. From the meet admin, down to other swimmers. Not just swimming in a pool that Lochte and Phelps were in, which was fabulous, but picking up hints/tips from people who've been there, done that, and what to look at. My Coach does stuff, but here is also a chance for a new pair of eyes to see how I am on my own. That alone was worth every penny I spent.
All different ability levels. This is what I was afraid of. I said I would never enter a meet months ago. Then I read and found out, hmmm I'm not seeded against 35 second 50m free people. These people aren't looking at me like I'm loser. They gave me something for being my age and doing this for the first time, by myself, away from home. I actually said something about being put in with the slower crew, requested it. It did make me feel better mentally. I found that very helpful.
As for speed, I'm racing against me. I blew my 50m fly time out the ballpark. My last 50m free timed in the only LCM pool I was in, used to, was more than 10 seconds slower than what I did at the met. My 100 free was another story, LOL. Again, I am learning how to pace myself and what I need to work on. I'll get faster, and I might get slower. However, life isn't always about speed.
Social activities. They had one of these there, but going by myself, I didn't attend. I had a 1.5 to 2 hour drive home, so that made a big difference for me. If I stayed at a hotel or the like, then it would be different.
Fun events. Now here is something that would fun to do.
Interest in training. I find that those who are interested in a meet are more consistent in attending training. Granted I can see it both ways.
Everyone seeing how you do, how you perform. The thing is, I'm not that good at all. I have done well but it was the other swimmers helping you to see how you do, how you perform, and giving you help & support. The question I have, is do you want to be the best you can be? If so, that means you blow up sometimes. Learn from the experience. Yes, its in front of people, but you know what, they have done the same thing.
It's not medals that matter, nor even times, but having fun and challenging yourself to do something active. This is true. Although I have to say, my one piece of bling from this weekend will carry me though a lot. In 18 months, I've gone from someone afraid to put my face in the water to diving off a block and doing a 50m fly in front of others, in my 40's. That one medal is a symbol of the courage to conquer fears, to persevere in the face of adversity (I'm missing part of my digestive system & its sort of trashed right now, so I'm not as strong as I could be), to take a risk (coming off the block for fly I tend to hoose up) in front of others. All of which was done by myself and a bit drive from home. Lets face it - a lot of people aren't willing to get out of the boat, even if it is to walk on water.
