Racing 101

masters have swim meets where there are various events offered. 50, 100, 200, 500, 1650 free 50, 100, 200 fly 50, 100, 200 back 50, 100, 200 *** 100, 200, 400 IM what you do depends on which events you're training for. if your main sport is road bike racing, I'd think you might want to enter the longer events It's probably best to sign up in advance do the best you can, find out where you are then train a little more and try to improve. happy laps to you, ande Originally posted by lexington476 How does a master swimming race work? I think I might want to try a race once just for the fun of it. I am doing swimming right now to help build fitness for my main sport of road bike racing, that first race is the last weekend in March. I am 30, what is the average of a masters swim racers? Do you have to be on a team and/or club to race or can you race (like in bike racing) unattached? Are there skill levels, age groups, or are you grouped by event type (i.e. 50-yard freestyle)? Can you sign up day of? What do most people do for their first race? What is some general advice that goes a long way?

1) Contact the registrar of the nearest LMSC in Michigan. 2) They'll help you find a club to swim with- most clubs have all levels from beginning swimmers to former Olympians. If the team has a coach they will help you at the workout. 3) My first meet ever (I was 9) I signed up for the 50 and 100 free because I didn't know the other strokes. After your first workout, ask the coach to help you determine what times to enter. 4) Masters is cool, because local meets (not LMSC championships or Nationals) allow you to deck enter the day of the meet. I do this often because I never know if I can go until the last minute! 5) Masters meets are fun, usually the more people the more fun, and this is the most nonjudgemental group of people anywhere :) 6) You can swim unattached. 7) At meets, there is a warm up period in the morning, races/events that are numbered (odd women, even men) and races by heat (seeded by time- the fastest in the last heat). Hope this helps. I've been swimming for 25 years, so if you have more questions I'd be happy to help, you can e-mail me. :)

USMS is organized into 53 local masters swim committees (LMSC) which register swimmers, advertise events in their local area, and administer the events under USMS rules. 1. Where do you live ? We can put you in touch with the LMSC registrar. Or you can find this information on the USMS website. 2. There are basically 2 types of events - a. swimming pool events b. open water events (lakes or ocean) You will probably want to start with a pool event, but if you are a distance biker or triathlete - then you might try an open water. Good Luck, Anthony Thompson, Kansas City Masters Blazers Missouri Valley LMSC, Chair

I live in metro Detroit, MI; I would be after indoor pool. I am doing this simply for cross training for bike racing. I have seen the Michigan listing of masters clubs, but I was wondering which are more for beginners? I would figure it is like bike racing, some clubs/teams are more for beginners and some are more for advance racers, either by chance or design. One thing I do not want is to end up with a group of snobs.