Heading to Sewanee, TN in the morning for my first meet. Please keep in mind I have never participated in/attended a swim meet.
Food: A good pre race breakfast consists of?
What foods are good for the day (I swim in the first event and the last event so this will an all day affair.)?
caffeine or energy gels before events?
Contents of swimbag: I know all the basics to bring. Is there anything a newbie would not know to bring that he wish he had brought?
Shaving: If so, what? I want to blend in with the other guys. Im ok with being the slow guy. I just don't want to be the slow hairy guy.
Timing mats: I do not do flip turns. Is there a mat in the water I need to touch w my hand so my splits are recorded? If I touch the wall but not the mat am I a DQ?
Diving: My local pool does not allow diving. Therefore, I plan on diving in from the edge of the pool and not the blocks. Any special rules about that?
Long races: For the 1000 free, if necessary, can I go to an ugly/illegal *** stroke? If I use breaststroke do I need to touch the wall with two hands?
Can I rest for a few seconds by holding on to the wall or ropes?
Thanks in advance for any advise!
For my first meet, I had my usual breakfast, which was 3 scrambled eggs and a smoothie (with whey protein). I've been told that a banana and some protein bars are good to munch on while at the meet. I was so nervous in my first meet, I didn't have anything but water. Lots of water...I had to use the restroom several times.
I brought the usual, an extra set of goggles, swim cap, etc. But I mainly used 3 things while I was there: I brought and drank 2 bottles of water, a swim coverall (kept me warm without having to use the towel), and my phone. At my meet, they didn't provide individual swimmers with the heat sheet, they just posted it on the wall. So I used my phone camera to take a picture of the heat sheet so I could go back to my corner and look through it.
I've seen some people bring folding chairs because there weren't enough to go around.
Can't comment on the shaving...
Diving: I started in the water. I didn't want to risk getting water in my goggles for my first swim meet. I had to tell the timers that I was going to start in the water. So just make sure that they know you are not going up on the block.
Not sure about the long races.
Good luck and have fun!
For my first meet, I had my usual breakfast, which was 3 scrambled eggs and a smoothie (with whey protein). I've been told that a banana and some protein bars are good to munch on while at the meet. I was so nervous in my first meet, I didn't have anything but water. Lots of water...I had to use the restroom several times.
I brought the usual, an extra set of goggles, swim cap, etc. But I mainly used 3 things while I was there: I brought and drank 2 bottles of water, a swim coverall (kept me warm without having to use the towel), and my phone. At my meet, they didn't provide individual swimmers with the heat sheet, they just posted it on the wall. So I used my phone camera to take a picture of the heat sheet so I could go back to my corner and look through it.
I've seen some people bring folding chairs because there weren't enough to go around.
Can't comment on the shaving...
Diving: I started in the water. I didn't want to risk getting water in my goggles for my first swim meet. I had to tell the timers that I was going to start in the water. So just make sure that they know you are not going up on the block.
Not sure about the long races.
Good luck and have fun!
