Do we have to swim in a lot of meets to go fast? Of people that compete, it seems like there is a wide variance among forum members on meet attendance. Some go to many meets and some go to only a few a year. It seems like some people only attend the big meets or nationals. It obviously helps to get experience at meets, but how many do you need to compete in ideally to (1) swim fast and improve, and/or (2) do well at major competitions such as zones or nationals?
Parents
Former Member
Interesting isn't it that meets are a bit of a contradiction. We want to do them, but life gets in the way in terms of either geography or family commitments. Sorry to harp on the old themes. :dedhorse:
The biggest challenge for me in getting back to swimming meets is that for many years I never tried to swim FAST. My first meet in 27 years was a lot of fun but humbling physically.
I've been following Ande's advice and trying to swim fast in practice more often. Getting speedwork in on a more regular basis I think is helping me drop times for the meets that I get to. To that end, my coach has advised a Tempo Trainer to help my turnover- seems as though 27 years of fitness swimming left me a bit slow on the uptake.
Fortress, I know I'm not answering your question, and it is a good one. We probably all have our own answers. I am going to do at least 3 meets over 5 months before nationals, and hopefully can work in at least 1 more.
Interesting isn't it that meets are a bit of a contradiction. We want to do them, but life gets in the way in terms of either geography or family commitments. Sorry to harp on the old themes. :dedhorse:
The biggest challenge for me in getting back to swimming meets is that for many years I never tried to swim FAST. My first meet in 27 years was a lot of fun but humbling physically.
I've been following Ande's advice and trying to swim fast in practice more often. Getting speedwork in on a more regular basis I think is helping me drop times for the meets that I get to. To that end, my coach has advised a Tempo Trainer to help my turnover- seems as though 27 years of fitness swimming left me a bit slow on the uptake.
Fortress, I know I'm not answering your question, and it is a good one. We probably all have our own answers. I am going to do at least 3 meets over 5 months before nationals, and hopefully can work in at least 1 more.
