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
I remember one of my early meets when I swam in novice when I was 12 years old. Novice was a year round division similar to summer leagues back in southern california in the late 1960's thru the 1970's. There was this pool that was 33 1/3 long. And I swam already freestyle and breastroke and backstroke before I did butterfly. 66 2/3 after during butterfly was too much and I combined butterfly with freestyle. That summer my second stroke best stroke became butterfly. I doubt that kids swim in 33 1/3 pools today in competition because pools size in competition have become more standardized.
I remember one of my early meets when I swam in novice when I was 12 years old. Novice was a year round division similar to summer leagues back in southern california in the late 1960's thru the 1970's. There was this pool that was 33 1/3 long. And I swam already freestyle and breastroke and backstroke before I did butterfly. 66 2/3 after during butterfly was too much and I combined butterfly with freestyle. That summer my second stroke best stroke became butterfly. I doubt that kids swim in 33 1/3 pools today in competition because pools size in competition have become more standardized.
