What do people think is the ideal number of events to swim per day at a meet? It seems that, for local meets, you're allowed to enter up to 5 events. That is way too many for me. I'm always gassed after 3 or end up scratching an event or relying on caffeine. Yet, I'd like to get more times in different events without traveling the countryside to go to zillions of meets. So, how many is too many if you want to swim fast?
I think the point is central to one's development as a competitor who can race well any time, any place. Viewing most races simply as learning opportunities, building toward certain well-targeted and more-rested or fully-rested meets, rather than seeing each as a do-or-die proposition.
In that approach, you de-emphasize place and time in favor of evaluating most races on the basis of how well you execute your race plan. Racing tired (or less than fully fit) will probably influence your final time, but shouldn't affect your ability to execute a race plan -- and you ought to learn more about how to do that when you're tired (whether from multiple events or from not adjusting your training sked) than when you're fresher.
Our pool was closed for 6 weeks for resurfacing. We've been back in the water 2 weeks, and NW Zones are coming up in a couple weeks. I'm nowhere near competition shape, and my times will no doubt be awful, but I'll be going for the following reasons.
(1) It's the same venue as Nationals, although the pool will be set up SCM for this meet. I'm a big believer in familiarity with a pool helping with speed, and I am planning to go to Nationals next year.
(2) I need more competition experience. I've learned something from every meet I have been to since my first meet back a year ago.
(3) I want to learn how to swim the 200 free. My first one wasn't pretty. Although my time will suck, I'll swim with the goal of splitting it properly.
(4) Meets are fun. This one should be well attended.
I think the point is central to one's development as a competitor who can race well any time, any place. Viewing most races simply as learning opportunities, building toward certain well-targeted and more-rested or fully-rested meets, rather than seeing each as a do-or-die proposition.
In that approach, you de-emphasize place and time in favor of evaluating most races on the basis of how well you execute your race plan. Racing tired (or less than fully fit) will probably influence your final time, but shouldn't affect your ability to execute a race plan -- and you ought to learn more about how to do that when you're tired (whether from multiple events or from not adjusting your training sked) than when you're fresher.
Our pool was closed for 6 weeks for resurfacing. We've been back in the water 2 weeks, and NW Zones are coming up in a couple weeks. I'm nowhere near competition shape, and my times will no doubt be awful, but I'll be going for the following reasons.
(1) It's the same venue as Nationals, although the pool will be set up SCM for this meet. I'm a big believer in familiarity with a pool helping with speed, and I am planning to go to Nationals next year.
(2) I need more competition experience. I've learned something from every meet I have been to since my first meet back a year ago.
(3) I want to learn how to swim the 200 free. My first one wasn't pretty. Although my time will suck, I'll swim with the goal of splitting it properly.
(4) Meets are fun. This one should be well attended.
