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
Hey Kyra, good luck at the meet next week!
I have a meet at Uniontown (PA) that same day. And I'll confess, after swimming competitively since I was 9, I have yet to find a way to really relax before a swim meet. The morning of the meet, I'm antsy, almost bouncy, wanting to go, impatient, fidgety, all kinds of things that are fueled by nerves.
However, I've discovered that once you're there, there is one point where you actually relax. It's warmups. Once you get in the water, nothing matters. If you can get in the pool and warm up, do a few length sprints, do your events uber slow, then do them again faster, or do whatever you want, really, then I've discovered that you'll completely forget everything you're nervous about.
Of course, those nerves come back a couple heats before your own, and when you step up on the block (or the side), you might feel like your heart's going to come right out of your chest. Happens to me, actually. Nerves like a jittery cat. Of course, it vanishes as soon as I hit the water.
So if you're asking for some advice on calming your nerves, I really only have one thing that works: the pool. Being in the water will make it better, even if you're a mental wreck outside. Also, Matt's right; whatever you have to do to calm your nerves outside the water - books, rock music (mine's Something Corporate and Alter Bridge) - do it. It won't take away the nerves behind the starting block, but you won't throw up on anybody :D
Let me know how it goes!
Steph
Hey Kyra, good luck at the meet next week!
I have a meet at Uniontown (PA) that same day. And I'll confess, after swimming competitively since I was 9, I have yet to find a way to really relax before a swim meet. The morning of the meet, I'm antsy, almost bouncy, wanting to go, impatient, fidgety, all kinds of things that are fueled by nerves.
However, I've discovered that once you're there, there is one point where you actually relax. It's warmups. Once you get in the water, nothing matters. If you can get in the pool and warm up, do a few length sprints, do your events uber slow, then do them again faster, or do whatever you want, really, then I've discovered that you'll completely forget everything you're nervous about.
Of course, those nerves come back a couple heats before your own, and when you step up on the block (or the side), you might feel like your heart's going to come right out of your chest. Happens to me, actually. Nerves like a jittery cat. Of course, it vanishes as soon as I hit the water.
So if you're asking for some advice on calming your nerves, I really only have one thing that works: the pool. Being in the water will make it better, even if you're a mental wreck outside. Also, Matt's right; whatever you have to do to calm your nerves outside the water - books, rock music (mine's Something Corporate and Alter Bridge) - do it. It won't take away the nerves behind the starting block, but you won't throw up on anybody :D
Let me know how it goes!
Steph
