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?
Former Member
Hey Matt:
I've been swimming for close to 40 years....and I still get the butterflies....sometimes so bad they should call them the Eagles.
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.
My first meet a year ago was a life changing event. Although I had been swimming with Masters for years, I had not attended a meet.
Since this meet, my focus and dedication to swimming has gone to a new level (obsession, my wife and friends say). The meets give you a training goal not to mention the opportunity to meet and watch other people with your same hobby.
Plus, if you go to a smaller meet, you will probably place in your events and get a nifty ribbon or medal.
Have fun.
When I was 16 and we lived in Tucson, our team went to Southern California back in 1965. I remember swimming in a 20 yard pool. Of course I had bad turns back then, and bad starts. I took my weaknesses and made them strengths. That makes up for my loss of my main strength back then, endurance.
My first masters meet my goggles came down around my mouth, being blind as a bat made it worse. So for the last 18 years I have worn my goggles glued to my swim cap. Now after laser surgey I can see.
Of course back in 1965 we went to swedish smorgasborgs and pigged out, lots of sugar for energy. Salt tablets at the meets went with candy bars. Can you spell BONK!!!!!
I still get MAJOR butterflies when they anounce my main events (breaststroke), no problem at all with the other strokes. That makes it a pleasure to swim them as I put no pressure on myself.
Sure glad we made it past out childhood and are now Masters swimmers.:) :) The nice thing is we are all winners for competing.
Wayne
Hello to all,
I think this is an excellent thread, since so many people seem to be afraid to take the plunge and get started.
As a few others said too, I am by far not the fastest person in the pool. Before my first meet, I thought I'd be the slowest, but was surprised that I was not. There are people of all ages, backgrounds, and swimming skills who participate in meets, and it is always a pleasant experience.
What surprised me most from my first meet was that I actually placed in some events. I think I only did 3 events...it was a Long Course Meters meet, and I did the 100 & 200 Free, and 100 ***. They give team points to the top 8 places in each age group/event, and for some events (such as ***), it can be a matter that few others compete.
There are usually some relays towards the end of the day too. Participating in team relays is probably the most fun I've had swimming. I've been both the slowest and fastest person in the group, and no one has ever complained that I didn't try hard enough.
Good luck with the meet, if you do it. Think of it as a way to get your times for those events, and improve on them for the next time.
Tim Murphy
I like your perspective, Bert! It reminds me of the first Nationals I went to, in Nashville (my hometown). Four of us from my team went, and although some of us were swimming lifetime bests, we still weren't placing very high. We were downright discouraged, and it showed on our faces as we were walking to our car. A fellow we passed said "Cheer up ladies. Just remember: no matter how fast or how slow you were, there are 1 billion people in China who couldn't care less!" Words to live by!
