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:
Re: preparation for the meet. Is this your only meet for awhile,if so see all the threads about tapering.Certainly do enough BR to feel comfortable with what you are swimming in the meet,but if you are doing mostly free in workout don't change to too much BR too soon or you'll hurt your knees. As to whether to enter the 50 or the 100,do both and then you'll have a better idea of which is your best. If you feel competent to finish it,enter the 200 BR as fewer people will be entering it.
Gerdrick - For giggles I looked at the qualifying times for nationals. My times would certainly qualify me - if I were 30 years older! :rofl::rofl::rofl:
Hey!!!! Same here!!!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: If only could get 10 sec off my time....oh well, some day I hope to do that! :wiggle:
Hi Gerdrick,
See...I told you that you'd get a nice flurry of warm welcomes and support.;)
And to answer your question...mosts meets are done by time...not by age. Unless it's a big championship meet like Nationals. That said...it's conceivable for a "20 something" to be seeded next to an 80 year old. A girl (lady on our team) in the 45-49 group has a long standing nemesis in the 80 plus division in the 50 ***. It's very funny to see her get all psyched up about racing in the same heat for fear of humiliation.
Don't pay any attention to the grandma comment. Maybe in jest this was said to inspire you to try starting from the blocks. Just tighten up the goggles and do it. No one will be watching despite what you may think.
Thank you all!!!!!:notworthy: :notworthy:
FindingMyInnerFish - I don't think you are a "grandma"! Sorry if that came out a wrong way!!!!
So, I think this is what I'll do: I will try the blocks and if it doesn't work -will go from the side! I will concentrate on my own technique and speed and not worry about other people (even though I am pretty competitive in every day life) and I will (or at least try as much as I can) to have fun! :banana:
If you all don't mind, here are a few more questions:
What are good exercises to do on land? Should I stick to Masters work outs for the next 3 weeks (which are mostly FR) or do mainly preparation workouts with all BR? What distance is better to do 50 or 100? I am a pretty good sprinter but not too fast on turns...any advice? :coffee:
Thanks again!!!!!
Well, I let others more in the know answer those questions Gerdrick, but wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying as well as learning from your post.
It has been ----- decades ------- since I have dived from anything let alone the "blocks". I've never been afraid of diving, but the "blocks" thing has me wondering! :dunno: I think the only opportunity I would even have to try this will be finding a master's team to swim with, which I have not found yet. Then again, the suggestion to try out the local high school pool might be an option. I'll have to keep that in mind.
Keep on asking those questions, and keep us updated on all that you do!!!:wiggle:
Gerdrick - For giggles I looked at the qualifying times for nationals. My times would certainly qualify me - if I were 30 years older! :rofl::rofl::rofl:
Thank you all!!!!!:notworthy: :notworthy:
FindingMyInnerFish - I don't think you are a "grandma"! Sorry if that came out a wrong way!!!!
Not to worry! I figured you were just quoting someone else, not expressing your own opinion. Anyway, I do this for fun, no matter! Grandma power, ha! :groovy:
Good luck in your meet! Let us know how it goes! Maybe sometime I'll even take courage in hand and try a block dive sometime. But whatever I decide, I'm good with it.
