Eek!!

Originally posted by Seagurl51 Maybe I'll see some of you at the meet! (February 20 in Bellevue WA). I'd say there's a 99% chance you will see me :) That's usually a good meet and not super crowded. There isn't really a spectator area, though, so if you have a folding chair or something it would be a good idea to bring it. I have to disagree with some of the advice about keeping your goggles on during a dive. You shouldn't have to make them any tighter or really push them against your face. I really think the key is making sure your head is down when you enter the water. The natural tendency people have is to look toward the far end of the pool on the start. If you can't keep them on don't sweat it. If you're only swimming 50 and 100 meter events you'll be o.k.

I haven't swam in a meet since my high school days. (It wasn't that long ago though). I'll be starting meets again this month. For how to keep your goggles on on a start I recommend pushing them hard into your eye sockets and keeping your chin tucked into your chest on your entry. A key thing I learned a few years ago chuck the goggles if they fall off in one swift movement. Almost everyone has had their goggles fall off, Amanda Beard included - she stopped wearing goggles at meets for awhile after that. As I understand it you at meets you are seeded by your time not by your age which has its advantages. You'll be racing against other people that are about the same speed as you. I've noticed in my age group (19-24) that very few people swim at meets which is good because it means I should do well in my age group until I have to move up next year. Congrats on competing. That's awesome you should feel good about that. Try not to get too nervous - I always feel like I'm going to puke before a race. When you are about to step up onto the blocks (the side, the wall) remember how hard you've worked and that you are there to have fun!

Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement. I'm starting to get really excited...and the meet is still more than a month away!! I printed off the entry form and as soon as I get my USMS membership card, I'm sending it in! Thanks again for all being such cool people!! ~Kyra

I am sure you'll have a great time and most likely you will perform better than you had anticipated. What event(s) are you swimming? I know your shoulder was giving you grief for a while there, how is that coming along? I plan on gearing up for some competition once I get my shoulder back in tip top shape. Good Luck and have fun!

This is somewhat of a stupid question...and I mean no offense to anyone by it. How many people that go to meets are younger? and how many of them/you are slow? I'm only 18 and I'm pretty slow (37 sec. for 50 yds free). So I'm kinda worried about making a fool out of myself. :( Originally posted by Seagurl51 All the meets that I have been to, places you in heats based on your seed times. Its nice so you don't get intimidated by faster swimmers. Keep track of your times. you will see that they keep improving and befor you know it, you will have a 32.00 50 Free. Good luck:D

Originally posted by Seagurl51 Any suggestions for making goggles stay on? I can dive off the wall and usually they stay on, but I'm kinda worried that from a block they won't. And how about backstroke starts? How different is it to start from a block then the wall? I'm hoping it will be easier because I can't seem to get good height off the wall. ~Kyra Can't comment much on backstroke starts because I simply don't do that event. But watching people at meets, it seems that being able to grab onto the block above the water on the start instead of just grabbing to the edge of the pool at practice gains them some big height. And it doesn't really look that hard. As for goggles on the forward starts, it can be a problem. You'll have to play with them during warmups. Tighten them up a little bit. Squish them tighter onto your eyes as someone mentioned. If it hurts a little, well, events are far shorter than an overall workout so it won't last that long! :) When I was in high school, goggles were just coming into vogue. NOBODY wore them at meets because the flimsy bands simply would not hold them on. But now most bands are thicker and wider. Also I find that my goggles stay on better if I have a "split" band or two bands. Put one rather high up on your head. That works for me. I've heard a lot of people say tuck your chin. That just doesn't seem to work for me. I end up going too deep. Your mileage may vary. I just tighten them up and I haven't had much problem. Oh, and some people wear their caps OVER their goggle straps. That may help too, though I have never done that.

Originally posted by Seagurl51 This is somewhat of a stupid question...and I mean no offense to anyone by it. How many people that go to meets are younger? and how many of them/you are slow? I'm only 18 and I'm pretty slow (37 sec. for 50 yds free). So I'm kinda worried about making a fool out of myself. :( ~Kyra Probably the majority of the women's times for 50 free will be above :30. Some go into the high :40s and even :50s. You'll be fine. And, as mentioned previously, you will be seeded with others with similar times, so you'll feel right at home!

I hadn't even thought about what events I want to do?!? I don't really have one that I am practicularly good at, so I was gonna go just for ones that I think are fun. I was thinking maybe either 50 or 100 back (maybe both), possibly a free event, and then I really want to do the 100 IM. That would have to be my favorite race....don't know why, but I find it fun(probably because I can't do more than 25 of fly with out dying). I'm glad to know that I'll be seeded by my time and not my age...that's makes me a lot less nervous to know that I'll be swimming against those with similar times as opposed to age. Thanx for the concern about my shoulder. It's doing a lot better, I've been doing my exercises and I can feel a difference. Thanx for all the wonderful advice and encouragment! I definately have some work to do before the meet...so I'm gonna go to the pool right now!! Maybe I'll see some of you at the meet! (February 20 in Bellevue WA). ~Kyra

Hi Kyra - the first time I went to swim meet as an adult I was very nervous - I swam in high school but that was eons ago and I didn't know what to expect. I was also worried about how I would look in my suit, etc. Silly stuff, really. But when I walked into the pool area I was immedately struck at the variety of swimmers: old, young, in between, fast, slow, large, small, and everyone in between. And no one cared!! And as Guvnuh said, you will be seeded with people you're own speed so no worries about being blown away! The second thing that struck me was how fun swim meets are. There was a woman swimming the 400 IM who was 89 years old! (yes, 89!). It took her a long time to finish (and it was a long course pool) but when she got out everyone clapped and cheered! I tend to get into a zone, especially as it gets closer to race time, but I've noticed that 99% of the people are friendly and I've even had people say, "good race" or wish me luck and vice versa. And if you keep going to meets, you'll see the same people over and over and you'll eventually make new friends. As for goggles - on my very first race of my very first meet, my goggles fell off! 400 free, long course. I just shoved em back on and kept going.... But I've learned to tuck my chin and tighten those babies up! Even if it's uncomfortable it's worth not having them slide down your face, which also happened to me on a 50 butterfly event. I swam with them in my mouth the whole way and lost my contacts at the bottom of UC Santa Cruz's pool...oh well. Live and learn. I've found that I need at least 1500 yards of initial warm up, not including warm ups and cool downs between races. I'll start with kick/drill/swim sets, a few sprints, and my coach will have me do a set of 5x100's to get a feel for how I want to pace a longer race. I swim the mid/long distance free events, and I need a lot of warm up yards. I also stretch in between to keep loose and I drink a lot of water. I also have a peanut butter sandwich handy and take a few bites between events. I'm usually nervous and don't have an appetite but I try to eat a little anyway so my blood sugar doens't drop and I end up bonking (which would be a disaster). Good luck! And remember - have fun and experiment. Try different races/strokes; do a race you wouldn't normally do just for fun! You might like it. I tried a 100 IM once - not my thing but it was a learning experience. Let us know how you do!! Kari:cool:

Do not get nervous. Get excited! Nervousness will create a situation where you will make quick mistakes. Get excited! Excitement will create situations where the sky's the limit.