I am scheduled to race in my first-ever meet very soon. I am new to swimming and am very, very slow (to put it mildddly) and have the burden of falling into one of the most competitive age classification. Nonetheless, I am being encouraged to participate (who knows why).
There are no meets in my area before the one in which I am supposed to participate so I can't get a feeling for what to expect. Can someone please give me the lowdown? As likely the slowest swimmer (I'm not being self-deprecating, just realistic) will I be scorned? How embassassing will it be to finish say a 50 Free after the others in my heat have already gotten out of the pool? (My 50 free is on par with most other swimmers' 100 free. Ugh.)
Also, I understand that at some meets, the goal is to rack up team points for a team or workout group title. Can I contriibute to this in any way (remember, I'm the slowest swimmer in the pool)? Should I simply put my foot down and refuse to "race" -- waiting until next year when I will (presumable) be more prepared?
Parents
Former Member
When you arrive at the pool, check in, there will be a table somewhere, and pick up a heat sheet, the list of all the people in each event in the order the events will be in. For many meets, the lanes and heats will all be already assigned. You can see what lanes you're in and warm up in one of those.
Some events, like the long ones, require you to check in for the event, and lanes will be assigned based on who shows up. This is to save time. Follow along with the heat sheet to estimate how long until you swim. Write down your times on the heat sheet.
Before the meet starts the entire pool will be open for warmup, and it can get crowded. Usually it is not crowded when warmup starts. Hop in a lane with a few teammates.
During the last half of warmup some of the outside lanes are used for "sprints" where people swim only in one direction and dive from the blocks. You can get used to the blocks if you are using them. You don't have to sprint, just dive and swim down easy if you want. Do not dive in the pool at any other time, except during your race. This is contrary to Masters rules and dangerous as well. Your coach can give some suggestions for warmup; I would recommend 1.5 times as far as you warm up during a practice. Whatever gets your body loose and muscles warm.
Events usually run slow to fast, though often in the first heat or two there are people with NT="no time" who can go almost any speed. The last event of the meet, like the 500 or 1650 may be run fastest to slowest, to punish the beginners.
Usually men and women are separate but can be combined depending on the event and meet. You'll be in a heat with people approximately the same speed as you. Same is pretty loosely defined, as a second of time ends up being about a bodylength of distance. I've been lapped in the 400 IM, and the 500, and I'm pretty fast. I think I was the only person that noticed how slow I was. But it was my best time, so I didn't care that much. A lot of people at the meet and a lot of people in the event and a 50 yard event means it could be a pretty close race. Don't watch your neighbor during the finish. Nail the wall and hope for longer fingernails.
Watch the starter for some earlier events to get a feel for how the starting process works. Be behind the blocks a heat or two before your turn, unless you are swimming something really long. The starter will signal for you to get up on the blocks (or in the water), signal for you to "take your marks", and then sound a gun or horn or beep to start the race. If someone false starts, there will be a lot of beeping or guns firing, and if the meet is run well, a rope will drop in the middle of the pool. If you swim over a rope, stop. The race will be restarted.
You will get tired and out of breath, but you are swimming faster than ever before, so don't worry about it.
During the meet some lanes will be open for warmup and warmdown. Do a little of each if you remember, maybe 100 or so.
Make sure you bring an extra suit and goggles and cap and a snack and a water bottle. Meets can run right through lunch. This bothers me more than most people.
Swim fast,
Greg
When you arrive at the pool, check in, there will be a table somewhere, and pick up a heat sheet, the list of all the people in each event in the order the events will be in. For many meets, the lanes and heats will all be already assigned. You can see what lanes you're in and warm up in one of those.
Some events, like the long ones, require you to check in for the event, and lanes will be assigned based on who shows up. This is to save time. Follow along with the heat sheet to estimate how long until you swim. Write down your times on the heat sheet.
Before the meet starts the entire pool will be open for warmup, and it can get crowded. Usually it is not crowded when warmup starts. Hop in a lane with a few teammates.
During the last half of warmup some of the outside lanes are used for "sprints" where people swim only in one direction and dive from the blocks. You can get used to the blocks if you are using them. You don't have to sprint, just dive and swim down easy if you want. Do not dive in the pool at any other time, except during your race. This is contrary to Masters rules and dangerous as well. Your coach can give some suggestions for warmup; I would recommend 1.5 times as far as you warm up during a practice. Whatever gets your body loose and muscles warm.
Events usually run slow to fast, though often in the first heat or two there are people with NT="no time" who can go almost any speed. The last event of the meet, like the 500 or 1650 may be run fastest to slowest, to punish the beginners.
Usually men and women are separate but can be combined depending on the event and meet. You'll be in a heat with people approximately the same speed as you. Same is pretty loosely defined, as a second of time ends up being about a bodylength of distance. I've been lapped in the 400 IM, and the 500, and I'm pretty fast. I think I was the only person that noticed how slow I was. But it was my best time, so I didn't care that much. A lot of people at the meet and a lot of people in the event and a 50 yard event means it could be a pretty close race. Don't watch your neighbor during the finish. Nail the wall and hope for longer fingernails.
Watch the starter for some earlier events to get a feel for how the starting process works. Be behind the blocks a heat or two before your turn, unless you are swimming something really long. The starter will signal for you to get up on the blocks (or in the water), signal for you to "take your marks", and then sound a gun or horn or beep to start the race. If someone false starts, there will be a lot of beeping or guns firing, and if the meet is run well, a rope will drop in the middle of the pool. If you swim over a rope, stop. The race will be restarted.
You will get tired and out of breath, but you are swimming faster than ever before, so don't worry about it.
During the meet some lanes will be open for warmup and warmdown. Do a little of each if you remember, maybe 100 or so.
Make sure you bring an extra suit and goggles and cap and a snack and a water bottle. Meets can run right through lunch. This bothers me more than most people.
Swim fast,
Greg
