Can someone please tell me what sandbagging is? I heard some people discussing it at my last meet, but didn't know exactly what they were talking about. It didn't sound very flattering though by the tone of their voices. Thanks in advance. :banana:
I agree with FlyQueen... Practice sandbaggers are the WORST!
I swim with several. One guy has been thrown out of every practice lane at least once because he drives everyone nuts with his "sleep through the first few reps, race through the last few" (when the rest of us are tiring) antics.
It really bothers me when the age-groupers do it though. I swim with the kids to work drills & speed that I don't get at masters practice, so I expect not to lead the lane with age-groupers. Seeing them loaf a practice breaks my heart. These kids kick my but in meets, but in practice they trow me to the front of the lane and draft, draft, draft.
I also agree with what Fort said about entering times based on overall fitness level and training just before the meet. I regularly back off my best times when entering an early/mid-season meet. Some team mates tease me about this, but I argue that I very rarely win my heat, which tells me that other people are fudging their times as well.
I dislike practice sandbaggers as well. I don't do it, when I actually get to my masters practices. In fact, I always start out a descending set too fast and have to force myself to slow down and restart. Age group sandbagging is unforgiveable. But they are only hurting themselves. As they age up, if they don't work hard, they'll be dusted by others that do. Except by the genetically gifted freaks of nature, I guess.
I'll just announce right now that I'm sandbagging my next meet. It's in less than 3 weeks and I've barely been in the water the last two weeks and my shoulder/trap hurts. :frustrated: It seems highly unlikely I'll be anywhere near my best times. Just going to swim 3 measly events and hop in the water. Don't give me any crap about it Muppet and Mollie. :thhbbb:
I think sandbagging is very prevalent and many masters swimmers do it. I think it is more prevalent in the 40+ age groups myself. But maybe there's no evil intent. It may just reflect the fact that we're always dealing with the vagaries and trials of middle age or just interested in swimming our own race. At least that's my current working theory. However, it is not nice to overly sandbag and drown others. Frankly, I never know what to do when I look at a meet sheet. Inexperience, I'm sure. Every meet is still somewhat of an adventure ... so are flip turns ...
I agree with FlyQueen... Practice sandbaggers are the WORST!
I swim with several. One guy has been thrown out of every practice lane at least once because he drives everyone nuts with his "sleep through the first few reps, race through the last few" (when the rest of us are tiring) antics.
It really bothers me when the age-groupers do it though. I swim with the kids to work drills & speed that I don't get at masters practice, so I expect not to lead the lane with age-groupers. Seeing them loaf a practice breaks my heart. These kids kick my but in meets, but in practice they trow me to the front of the lane and draft, draft, draft.
I also agree with what Fort said about entering times based on overall fitness level and training just before the meet. I regularly back off my best times when entering an early/mid-season meet. Some team mates tease me about this, but I argue that I very rarely win my heat, which tells me that other people are fudging their times as well.
I dislike practice sandbaggers as well. I don't do it, when I actually get to my masters practices. In fact, I always start out a descending set too fast and have to force myself to slow down and restart. Age group sandbagging is unforgiveable. But they are only hurting themselves. As they age up, if they don't work hard, they'll be dusted by others that do. Except by the genetically gifted freaks of nature, I guess.
I'll just announce right now that I'm sandbagging my next meet. It's in less than 3 weeks and I've barely been in the water the last two weeks and my shoulder/trap hurts. :frustrated: It seems highly unlikely I'll be anywhere near my best times. Just going to swim 3 measly events and hop in the water. Don't give me any crap about it Muppet and Mollie. :thhbbb:
I think sandbagging is very prevalent and many masters swimmers do it. I think it is more prevalent in the 40+ age groups myself. But maybe there's no evil intent. It may just reflect the fact that we're always dealing with the vagaries and trials of middle age or just interested in swimming our own race. At least that's my current working theory. However, it is not nice to overly sandbag and drown others. Frankly, I never know what to do when I look at a meet sheet. Inexperience, I'm sure. Every meet is still somewhat of an adventure ... so are flip turns ...
