Hi everyone! I am planning to go to my very first (all of my life, I was never a swimmer) meet this month...and am freaking out already!!!!! Maybe I should back out before it's too late? See, I am not all that fast and have never performed a start dive from a block.:shakeshead: Our Master's coach is not all that great, he is a nice man just as a coach I don't think I benefit all that much. To my question of how to make my breaststroke faster his response was "Drink more coffee"!!!:frustrated: I did get a private coach to help me but not sure if that's enough..... What should I do? Are all the odds against me? I was looking forward to this meet when it was 2-3 months away, but now......The meet is in 3 weeks..... Help!!!!!:notworthy:
Remember this: As a breaststroker you already have a leg up on the other stroke swimmers because only the gifted can do ***. Ask anyone ;)
Gerdrick - listen to SwimStud, he's right and I know!!!
You will do fine. My mistake was not ducking my head on entry and swimming with my goggles on my nose. So remember to duck! The good thing is that it only happens once and I am probably the only one who remembers it even happened.
Did my first masters meet last summer, after not swimming or competing for 20yrs. I knew my times would be slow, but I needed to see where I was at. I didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, it was very relaxed, everyone I met was freindly and civil. Probably the big thing I noticed was that most everyone was "racing themselves". If it's a small enough meet then you may be the only one in your age division, and since you don't have any times to post, you'll be in the slower heats. Maybe as a strategy, you could take it easy on your events, swim nice and easy, and then at your next meet go all out - then brag about how much progress you've made. :D
It seemed that everyone applauded each others efforts and that was cool. So like all these other posters say, just go out and have fun.
Visualize your swims for several minutes before the race Go through the whole thing in your mind including stepping up to the block. then swim.
When I read Allen's recommendation to visualize, I was reminded of the visualization exercises my AAU (showing my age) coach had us doing. I could do them really well once I got past the start. Usually I visualized myself falling off the blocks or tripping on the way up there. None of these things had ever actually happened, and I had done hundreds of starts in practice and races. I only relay this so that you understand that many of us are very nervous about the starts, no matter how many we have done. Try at least one start off the blocks. If it doesn't go well, go from the side or the push from the wall. No one will care at all.
Relax and have fun at the meet, that is really what masters is all about.
Try contacting your local High School or College swim coach. They may let you practice your starts. That's what I did, at the "Y' you can't dive, so I go up to the HS and practice my starts. The coach should give you pointers if needed. You'll may be surprised how helpful they are and willing to let you practice.
Don't be afraid to ask, all they can say is "no" and I hear that all the time, it's "yes" you have to worry about. Because that means you really have to do something then.
Good Luck....
That's a great idea!
I made up my mind that I want to participate in meets, and one thing I'm nervous about is the block. I'm not big on doing anything head first, but I figure I just need to do it a bunch of times so that the fear factor subsides. My problem is the same as yours: Y=no diving.
Gerdrick: I've never swam competitively either, but I'm willing to give it a try. I attended a local masters meet just to check things out, and it was pretty laid back with swimmers of many different levels. Between that and listening to the encouragement of the others here, I'm going to train for it and give it a try. Congrats to you for going for it.
PS I'm slow too, but I am getting more comfortable with it. I can only swim as fast as I can. I recognize that I am and will continue to get faster, but also that I should have some fun with it where I am.
Good luck and have fun!
It may help if you think of your first meet as just practice for your later meets. You'll still be learning how a meet works and how to race. This first meet will give you an idea how fast you are now, so later you can see how much you've improved. The slower you are now, the more potential you have to improve! If you can, go with a friend who has swum in meets before and can help you make sure you do what you're supposed to do and get to your lane in time to race.
Thank you all so VERY much for all your support and help! I feel a bit better!
I have contacted one of the meet officials and he said that I even could come out on Friday before the meet (when long distance swim is going on) and practice my dives, so I think I'll do that! Also, one of the coaches from Rice University agreed to a private lesson on dives BUT I am not sure I can afford $80.00 an hour...:rolleyes:
Thanks for the idea about HS pools!
I'll keep you all posted of what's going on with my first ever meet and preparations to it! Thanks again!
"Remember this: As a breaststroker you already have a leg up on the other stroke swimmers because only the gifted can do ***. Ask anyone" - Thanks....
Catherine
P.S. Is anyone participating in the same meet? March 23-35 in Houston, TX?
Hi everyone! I am planning to go to my very first (all of my life, I was never a swimmer) meet this month...and am freaking out already!!!!! Maybe I should back out before it's too late? See, I am not all that fast and have never performed a start dive from a block.:shakeshead: Our Master's coach is not all that great, he is a nice man just as a coach I don't think I benefit all that much. To my question of how to make my breaststroke faster his response was "Drink more coffee"!!!:frustrated: I did get a private coach to help me but not sure if that's enough..... What should I do? Are all the odds against me? I was looking forward to this meet when it was 2-3 months away, but now......The meet is in 3 weeks..... Help!!!!!:notworthy:
How exciting...
Just relax and enjoy it, there is as much pressure as you want there to be at a masters meet, you have control of it. It's one of the most supportive environments you can imagine. Just have fun and remember that every swim you do at your first meet will be a personal best!
JS
Gerdrick and Ensignada, I look forward to hearing about your first meet!! I have yet to do one, and for this moment am not planning any -- none around that I know of --- but I want to hear every detail from you two. It will be my lesson number one!
Cheers to you for doing it, and have fun!!!!!!
gerdrick
Was the 1st meet by any chance today? I am in houston and just did a meet over in Rice, or are you talking about Zones in a few weekends, if you have a place that will let you dive in I would be happy to help with the diving thing..I also suffer from MAJOR nerves too and have been swimming for the better part of 16yrs. I think that havng a little nervous energy is a good thing. Don't worry about the nerves and I am glad that you have entered the realm of meets GOOD for YOU!:D
Gerdrick and Ensignada, I look forward to hearing about your first meet!! I have yet to do one, and for this moment am not planning any -- none around that I know of --- but I want to hear every detail from you two. It will be my lesson number one!
Cheers to you for doing it, and have fun!!!!!!
Thanks, Nancy, but I just made my decision and won't be trying it until I've trained for it. I think I'll take Rich's advice and pick an event and work at it. I'm ready to work toward something new.
