On February 20, I'm hoping to go to my first swim meet......ever! :eek: I swam on the team when I was younger, but I never competed. I'm incredibly nervous already and I have no idea what to expect because I have never been to a meet before. I swam with my friend who is a coach, and I have what seems like a lot of work to do on my strokes. How realistic is it that I be ready by February? Obviously I won't be at the top of the field, but I'm hoping to at least not make a fool out of myself. But what I really want to know is what to expect. How do I train, and how do I taper? When do I start tapering? Do I even need to taper? Any good pre-meet workout ideas? Any thing that anyone can suggest would be helpful!!! Thanx a bunch!!
~Kyra
Parents
Former Member
Kyra -- Don't over-analyze this! Maybe you can be a little less worried about this meet if you look at it as just another workout with LOTS of rest in between sets. :)
Maybe (MAYBE) you can cut back on your workout the day before. Don't OVERwork so that you're not sore the day of the meet. But are you usually sore the day after any workout anyway? If not, then you'll be fine at the meet.
As for eating, you don't eat anything special the day before or the day of your workouts, do you? Most likely you will end up swimming far less than your normal workout on the day of the meet, so maybe a special diet before the meet will disrupt your normal bodily cycles. Maybe you'll under consume (or over consume) what you normally get for sugars or other dietary components. What a joy it would be (not) if you find yourself constipated or having low blood sugar at the meet!
You can start worrying about this stuff when you sign up for a 10K open water swim some day. Or if you are trying to break a world record or qualify for the Nationals...
The day of the meet, eat the same breakfast you ate before you did your workout all the previous Saturdays. If it worked all those other days, it will work at the meet.
Take some gatorade with you the day of the meet. Take some oranges. Maybe a bagel or a granola bar. Chances are that you won't eat half of what you take. I also take coffee in a thermos.
You might find that there will be a concessions table selling (or even giving away) some sort of power drink, coffee, fruit, other stuff. Unless you know for sure that it will be there, though, I recommend you take some stuff just in case you get hungry/thirsty.
And then on the way home, stop at Krispy Kreme and treat yourself for a meet well swum!
Kyra -- Don't over-analyze this! Maybe you can be a little less worried about this meet if you look at it as just another workout with LOTS of rest in between sets. :)
Maybe (MAYBE) you can cut back on your workout the day before. Don't OVERwork so that you're not sore the day of the meet. But are you usually sore the day after any workout anyway? If not, then you'll be fine at the meet.
As for eating, you don't eat anything special the day before or the day of your workouts, do you? Most likely you will end up swimming far less than your normal workout on the day of the meet, so maybe a special diet before the meet will disrupt your normal bodily cycles. Maybe you'll under consume (or over consume) what you normally get for sugars or other dietary components. What a joy it would be (not) if you find yourself constipated or having low blood sugar at the meet!
You can start worrying about this stuff when you sign up for a 10K open water swim some day. Or if you are trying to break a world record or qualify for the Nationals...
The day of the meet, eat the same breakfast you ate before you did your workout all the previous Saturdays. If it worked all those other days, it will work at the meet.
Take some gatorade with you the day of the meet. Take some oranges. Maybe a bagel or a granola bar. Chances are that you won't eat half of what you take. I also take coffee in a thermos.
You might find that there will be a concessions table selling (or even giving away) some sort of power drink, coffee, fruit, other stuff. Unless you know for sure that it will be there, though, I recommend you take some stuff just in case you get hungry/thirsty.
And then on the way home, stop at Krispy Kreme and treat yourself for a meet well swum!
