...to take part in an event and not totally embarrass myself?
I am not thinking of winning...just having a reason to train by competing locally. Does that make sense?
You nutcases are beginning to inspire me.. ;) hehe
If you want to compete, then do it! Don't be afraid to go to a meet. At masters meets you will find all ranges of swimmers, from the swimmer who has competed their whole life to the swimmer who is new to the pool. I have found over the years that swimmers at masters meets tend to be very friendly; it is a welcoming environment.
If you start going to meets now, it will give you a starting point and you'll be able to make future goals to keep you motivated. So sign up, and have a good time!
Hi Rich,
Definitely just enter and go for it! You don't have to be able to do flipturns or even go off the blocks to race at a masters meet - it's not uncommon to see open turns and starts from in the water. Pick a meet, pick an event or two, and try it. If possible, see if you can estimate a decent seed time for yourself - either have someone time you or just look at the clock/your watch and make your best estimate. Most masters meets take seed times for events and are seeded by time regardless of age or gender. So you could be in a heat with both men and women of all ages.
Like Dana said, your first meet will give you times to improve upon (and hey, the more out of shape you are at that first meet, the more room for improvement - this was my strategy last year!!)
Good luck!
Rich,
Just do it! When I started back after a 20 year layoff, my back was so bad I could barely bend over and it hurt to do a flip turn. I still did it and got an idea of where I was starting from by doing my 1st masters meet after only 4 weeks in the pool.
After 3 years my back has significantly improved (though I am not sure it will ever be 100%) and I have improved significantly in every event and met alot of great people along the way.
Donna:wave:
RICH
TRUST ME! If I can do this then you can. My 1st few meets were the 100free and the 50free. The best part is that you are thinking about this! Go for it!:groovy:
I would say, if the guards don't have to rescue you, you are fit enough. What I found when I went to my first meet ever at age 40, no one is watching anyway. Everyone is gabbing with their friends. Masters meets are very laid back.
If you can do a moderate 200 Br. then you should enter that. That way you won't have to do flip turns,and you can tell from other posts many people avoid breaststroke,especially the 200.Also remember that the most important aspect of carbo loading is eating 2 desserts the night before the meet. I know that can be hard but you just have to force yourself.lol
Enter the meet! How bad could it be? Did you see what happened to me at my second meet on the embarassment thread?:rofl: And people are very nice at these meets. You do not get scolded. Well, maybe by trash talking teammates. But they wouldn't dare at your first meet.
And since everyone is so very intelligently avoiding the breaststroke as Alan mentions, maybe you'll have that 200 all to yourself!
Now, I don't do that 2 dessert thing Allen mentions. I just try to stay up really late the night before a meet and then worry about whether my alarm will go off. Best advice: Unless you're a morning person, ugh, pick an afternoon meet or one that starts at a seemly hour.
