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?
Originally posted by Bert Petersen
because our goal here is to achieve fitness, while meeting friends and having fun along the way. The competition is just an annoying yardstick of our progress. Your new directive is to NOT be the fastest swimmer but to be the OLDEST swimmer........ Think about it. :)
Simple and poinent Bert.
At the risk of killing its intent, I smell a catch Phrase out of this: Something similar to "US masters Swimming where the race is against time - not just in the pool."
I am sure someone can improve on that paltry line.
Maybe Berts' is best : US Masters Swimming - where the goal is not to be the fastest, but the oldest swimmer.
Chris
P.S. Fast Ion - Good to know there are kindred spirits out there. I too have enjoyed reading many of your posts dating back to the "old" discussion forum.
:) I learned to swim 2 years ago at 38, and just competed in my first ever meet last Sunday. I was hesitant also, but really had a good time. Everyone is very encouraging. Some people do starts in the water, some off the blocks. There are all kinds of turns, some people wear goggles, some not. I was very impressed with the 83 year old woman who did the 500 free. Her form was not great, her time was slow, but she did it and even went off the block. I missed my heat in the 50 back(whoops bad as an 8 year old), and everyone lauged with me and they got me in an empty lane. I think you will do better time wise than you think. I had goal times in my mind when I swam and I surpassed all of them. I was still slow, but I felt like I had accomplished something. There were some 30 something women there who had 50 times that were over a minute and it did not bother them. They went out, swam there races and had a good time. Just go for it and do it for yourself!
Swimmer,
Like the others said, swim to please yourself. And, BTW, were the people in the 2000 Olympics laughing at Eric the Eel or Paula the Piranha, or were they applauding them?
Matt
Originally posted by Beards247
Swimming is not necessarily about who is the fastest, or how you contribute to team points.
Steps in any athletic hobby:
1) Have fun
2) Have fun while staying healthy
3) Have fun while competing, improving, and setting Personal Bests
4) Have fun while becoming active in the community, and participating at a regional/national level as a part of a team.
5) Have fun while training for peak performance and competition at an elite level.
Is is easy to pick apart the levels I described, but the main point is (hopefully) clear; no matter what level of commitment you are comfortable with, make sure you are having fun. Be comfortable with the commitment you make. You will stick with it longer.
Be aware others have a different level of commitment - they have fun competing and they believe other people will too. While this is slightly ego-centric, their intentions are good. Just remind them you are happy to swim at the level you do. There is a guy I swim with who beats my pants off, but never competes. He is happy as a fitness swimmer.
Your first meet! I get (good) butterflies before every meet. But I do remind myself of one thing before I step on the block - This to me is fun and challenging and I swim for no one else but myself. By the end of the race, I want to swim again.
HTH,
Chris
Good post Beards: you articulate what instinctively I am searching for since I was elsewhere and no organization like Masters Swimming was in place.
Originally posted by Beards247
...
P.S. Fast Ion - Good to know there are kindred spirits out there.
...
Because I am on a roll right now -and with apologies to the purists who want to keep every post streamlined to the thread's intended topic- I believe Chris, that the answer to your question in the thread "Swim video" is videos that Matt Shirley has.
This would be correct if my recollection of the old Forum is exact.
Matt posted today, before my post, and he can be asked to confirm this, at the e-mail address displayed in his profile.
If I am mistaken, sorry to take your time.
Hi Swimmer Wannabe:
Gosh, it will be great when you swim your first meet. In the 11 years I've swam Masters I have never witnessed anyone act in a negative manner toward another competitor... especially for being slow. Never....nothing even close!
Slow is a relative term in Masters Swimming. Slower then the person in the lane next to you? Or, slower then the person who does not get out of bed in the morning and exercise at all? Or, slower then the really fast swimmers in United States Masters Swimming? Heck, even the top-level swimmers get beat.
My point is simple...YOUR A WINNER for keeping fit through Masters Swimming and caring enough to stay in shape. Swimming in meets is an extension of your commitment to keeping fit.
Lastly, I believe that in life, swimming, work, school, relationships or whatever...that you can neither win or lose...unless you walk into the Arena and give it a whack. You’re not sitting on the sidelines in life here....and that makes you a winner in my book.
Enjoy the meet, do your best, have fun and get to know some of the people there...you will enjoy yourself.
Kindest regards,
Tom Ellison
Swimmer Wannabe - Go for it! You are not alone. I'm entering my 1st competition at the end of next month and although I have a decent freestyle, I've only just started learning the flip turn and have yet to jump off the block. Hope to make good progress by competition, but I'll compete no matter what. From the many contributors on this board, it's clear ALL are welcome at competition. To back up Tom's point, here's a quote by Coach *** Jochums I read in the excellent book Gold in the Water that I now keep posted on my fridge as a daily inspiration. I thought it would be worth mentioning in this thread:
“Those who strive, those who leave nothing on the table, those who will take the risk, will all be winners.
Life is truly sweeter for those who truly live it.
The world belongs, and will always belong, to the people who participate.
Those who stand on the outside, who never risk, who never fail, cannot now, or will they ever, understand the beauty of each breath of life.
So don’t feel sorry for those who fail, feel sorry for the majority that never participate.
They’ll just never understand, let alone feel, all that life can and should be.”
Dan
Swimming is not necessarily about who is the fastest, or how you contribute to team points.
Steps in any athletic hobby:
1) Have fun
2) Have fun while staying healthy
3) Have fun while competing, improving, and setting Personal Bests
4) Have fun while becoming active in the community, and participating at a regional/national level as a part of a team.
5) Have fun while training for peak performance and competition at an elite level.
Is is easy to pick apart the levels I described, but the main point is (hopefully) clear; no matter what level of commitment you are comfortable with, make sure you are having fun. Be comfortable with the commitment you make. You will stick with it longer.
Be aware others have a different level of commitment - they have fun competing and they believe other people will too. While this is slightly ego-centric, their intentions are good. Just remind them you are happy to swim at the level you do. There is a guy I swim with who beats my pants off, but never competes. He is happy as a fitness swimmer.
Your first meet! I get (good) butterflies before every meet. But I do remind myself of one thing before I step on the block - This to me is fun and challenging and I swim for no one else but myself. By the end of the race, I want to swim again.
HTH,
Chris
I'll throw a few cents in.
You should race when you are ready and only if you want to. If this is something you don't want to do then don't do it. There will be other meets.
If you decide to swim then I can pretty much assure you that you
won't be scorned and in fact most people will appreciate the effort you put into it. If anyone gives you a hard time then you should dismiss them trolls and move on. It isn't all about being the fastest.
Fritz
because our goal here is to achieve fitness, while meeting friends and having fun along the way. The competition is just an annoying yardstick of our progress. Your new directive is to NOT be the fastest swimmer but to be the OLDEST swimmer........ Think about it. :)
