There's a Brute Squad meet in my area. I'm having doubts about doing the brute because I don't know if I can handle those events without going slow and I may be the slowest swimmer by serveral seconds in some cases. Also, it cuts into doing the breastroke because I will be too tired which are probably the only events that I'm half decent at. Both my Backstroke and butterfly are even slower than my breastroke. What do you think?
Cindy,
I suppose it depends on what you want to do. Are you interested in swimming your best in you primary events? Or, are you interested in the achievement of completing the Brute Squad? You are correct in assuming that all those long events will probably tire you out for your breaststroke. This is Masters; you get to pick your objectives.
If you are concerned about being the slowest swimmer, don't be. Regardless of whether you are a few seconds faster or slower, there is the "You did what?!" effect, which generates respect and admiration. Let me illustrate. At a large meet I attended, I timed for a number of people in the 400 IM. There were some pretty fast swimmers, but the person I remember was a lady in her 80's who simply FINISHED a 400 IM. We should all be so gutsy when we get to her age.
You may have encountered a few self-centered swimmers who complain about having the sit through older swimmers who take "forever" to finish the longer events. Pay them no heed. Mostly, they are expressing frustration with having to wait at very LONG meets, like SC Nationals, and their opinion is in the minority. You will probably get more applause for being the LAST swimmer to finish the Brute Squad than you would get for being the FIRST swimmer to do so.
Matt
