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?
Just one correction to Greg's excellent summary of what to expect: If there is a false start, there will NOT be a lot of guns and horns going off. The rules were changed a couple of years ago, and now we (as well as USA Swimming) do not call back false starts. The officials are still watching, and if you false start, you'll still be DQ'd. It's just that they won't tell you until AFTER the race is over. Not much fun being told you're DQ'd after you've swum that 400 IM or 200 fly! On the other hand, at least this way you get to swim the event, and get a time, which is all a lot of swimmers want anyway.
Meg Smath
Just one correction to Greg's excellent summary of what to expect: If there is a false start, there will NOT be a lot of guns and horns going off. The rules were changed a couple of years ago, and now we (as well as USA Swimming) do not call back false starts. The officials are still watching, and if you false start, you'll still be DQ'd. It's just that they won't tell you until AFTER the race is over. Not much fun being told you're DQ'd after you've swum that 400 IM or 200 fly! On the other hand, at least this way you get to swim the event, and get a time, which is all a lot of swimmers want anyway.
Meg Smath
