I realize this question is niave, please go easy on me! :)
I don't have a background in competitive swimming and one of the things that confuses me is the contradiction between racing your own optimal pace and racing against the other swimmers in the pool. It seems like swimming with your own optimal pacing should always be your best option. The only exception I can think of is for a slower swimmer to use tactics which attempt to get a faster swimmer to blow their race. This doesn't seem to fit in with the general principles of masters swimming, so why do the higher level competitions seem to cater to it by seeding by other than time?
Sticking to your own pace is fine and dandy in theory. But, when you get to the meet and swim next to people it's hard to maintain your own, solo practice pace. This is why you often go much faster at meets than practice. I fully believe that swimming alone is great but swimming with others is vital for meet preparation or even overally swimming enjoyment. It's boring to swim alone.
Sticking to your own pace is fine and dandy in theory. But, when you get to the meet and swim next to people it's hard to maintain your own, solo practice pace. This is why you often go much faster at meets than practice. I fully believe that swimming alone is great but swimming with others is vital for meet preparation or even overally swimming enjoyment. It's boring to swim alone.
