Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:08:35 GMT

Good solid coaching advice!!! Something you will always remember!

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:10:39 GMT

My best, most memorable swim was in college. At our big championship meet (New Englands division 3B or something like that) my freshman year, I was still pretty weak with mono that had shown up with it's companion strep throat 2 months before. Somehow I made it into the finals for the 400 IM, but was really exhausted and stressing about doing a good time in the final. My coach pulled me aside and gave me the best advice anyone ever had. He basically said, look you are in the top 8, and the worst that can happen is you get 8th. No one that is in the 9-16 places can place ahead, even if they swim faster than you do. He told me to swim "pretty", make sure I didn't get disqualified, and he wasn't worried about my time. It took all the stress off my shoulders, and although I don't remember my time, it was a PB and I placed better than 8th.

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:06:59 GMT

Mine for now is the BR200 I raced at my first Masters Meet. It was the first race in 25 years; my goggles filled with water off the dive but did not come off. When I realised I could not see, I had a split second to decide whether to quit, and clamber out much to the amusement of others or just press on. I just got on with my race; aggravated that I was doing a really bad time because of misjudging the walls etc. However when I finished I'd still knocked of 7-10 seconds of of my training times. Shows what hard work in training and a bit of grit can do for you in a race situation. I just don't think this memory will fade too soon, unless I start collecting "bling"...unlikely.

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:54:30 GMT

meldyck;83599 ..............I declared to anyone who would listen that I wanted to win a national championship when I turned 60. Five years later, just two weeks before I turned 65 by FINA rules, I was under the national record in the 200 SCM breaststroke. So, I resolved this time to put all my effort into trying for that record. At Canadian Nationals last year I had my big chance. Alas, I wasn't even close - probably 10 seconds away. This is the ironical aspect of Masters swimming: You can only be one age once (one age group five times). If one doesn't accomplish a goal in one's last year in an age group, one will never be 60-64 again (or whatever to whatever+4). The compensation is that the following year, one will then be the youngest (relatively) in the next age group and theoretically a fresh, younger whippersnapper who -theoretically- should beat the "older" geezers. (Unless some of these geezers happen to be of Geochuck or Ian Smith calibers, in which case one -i.e., me- is "toast").:(

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:16:19 GMT

My most recent memorable race was just a few moths ago swimming the 200 free for the first time in my life. I have always been a sprinter, so besides the 200 IM that was the longest race I had ever done, so I really had no idea how to pace it or what time to expect. I was in one of the outside lanes. For the first three 50's, I stayed about at the hip of the girl next to me. It felt fast but easy. When I got to the last 50, I still had a lot of energy left, and I beat the girl next to me by almost five seconds. I ended up in 3rd out of about 10, which surprised me because I'm usually in the slower half in my 'good' events.

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Rob Copeland — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:00:44 GMT

My most memorable race would have to be the 1999 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. First of all current assisted swims are amazing, heading up the East River at 6 to 8 MPH, passing runners on shore, flying past the United Nations building, swimming under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges and past Yankee Stadium. Those first couple of hours went by fast The second leg, up the Harlem River, wasn’t quite as much fun. The current slows and there aren’t as many scenes of big apple history. But once we made the hard left turn at Spuyten Duyvil and headed down the Hudson River, the current picked up and sites of NY and Jersey became familiar again. There was also a noticeable increase in boat traffic (jet skis, sailing boats and ships, power boats and cruise ships). The George Washington Bridge from water level is an awesome site, as were the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Statue of Liberty. Beyond the travelogue beauty of the swim, was that my son was with me as a member of my crew, having your kids there cheering you on is a heartwarming experience. (However from his perspective 7 hours in a slow boat around the island may not be on his list of favorite things, right up there with 11 hour in a slow boat across the English Channel). Additionally my wife, daughter and other family members was there to cheer me on at the finish. And as for the actual swim, I felt great, kept my tempo up for the entire swim and was ready for a beer at the finish. And thanks to favorable conditions my 6 hours 52 minutes still stands as the 3rd fastest race time, behind Tobie Smith and Tammy Van Wisse. (Note – there have been faster individual times just non achieved during the MIMS).

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:43:36 GMT

Hi Didn't meant to try and steal anyone's thunder (or hijack anyone's thread) and I'm not saying that you're implying I did. Intermission............... Just came back from "there". Read all the posts and am continuing this reply. Music............Curtains come up. Resume post................................. As you can probably see I only joined a few days ago and have not reached very far down the more than 150 threads. Donna's thread intentions is just what I meant by "ahem.........starting......'hm 'hm ......this thread". She called it Power swim, I called it memorable, because (details later) I can remember the color of the pool water that day, the feel of the water's temperature, details of strokes, body position, etc... L8R In case I haven't said it yet...Welcome to our forum 3strokes!! There are no real rules about thread formations....similar type threads crop up all the time....for example, not long ago two separate threads about Dennis Baker's swim Blog came up within days of one another....people just blissfully posted on both of them....If anyone wants to see real thread hijacking just peruse over my posting record a bit...LOL!!:rofl: Newmastersswimmer

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:42:41 GMT

islandsox;83457 I think it is good to comment on this thread because for one thing, there are many new people here who may not go back to older threads, and two, my initial thread was similar but not quite. My memorable swim was Masters 1995 LC Nationals in Oregon. The best swim of my entire life and I have done a pile of them. Lots of power, very controlled, negative split all the 50s, and swam my fastest 800 m ever. Couldn't even get out of the pool right away; nothing was left energy wise. My other couple of great swims took place in the 1960s. donna Details please. Relive them and pray tell it like you remember, like you felt it back then. And I'm not trying to psych you UP for your Sunday 1Mile, although a good, happy memory, really boosts the morale. Cheers

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:24:22 GMT

I think it is good to comment on this thread because for one thing, there are many new people here who may not go back to older threads, and two, my initial thread was similar but not quite. My memorable swim was Masters 1995 LC Nationals in Oregon. The best swim of my entire life and I have done a pile of them. Lots of power, very controlled, negative split all the 50s, and swam my fastest 800 m ever. Couldn't even get out of the pool right away; nothing was left energy wise. My other couple of great swims took place in the 1960s. donna

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:21:20 GMT

I have four memorable swims, all as a master's swimmer. Three involve me and one involves others. In chronological order: At the 1999 USMS LC Nationals in Minneapolis I was behind the blocks in the slow heat of the 50 BR in the men's 55-59 age group. The fast heat of the men's 60-64 age group was just going off and I watched the whole race. First, second and third places were Olympians from 1960: Tom Winters (my room mate at the meet), Jeff Farrell and Bill Mulliken. Tom won in a new national record. What an inspiration that was to me. I resolved to try to join the fast heat in the future. Back home I got myself a stroke coach, lost about 30 pounds, swam consistently and declared to anyone who would listen that I wanted to win a national championship when I turned 60 (this from a guy who was 4th out of 4 breaststrokers on his college team). At Federal Way LC Champs in 2001, I snagged first place in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Five years later, just two weeks before I turned 65 by FINA rules, I was under the national record in the 200 SCM breaststroke. So, I resolved this time to put all my effort into trying for that record. At Canadian Nationals last year I had my big chance. Alas, I wasn't even close - probably 10 seconds away. So, there are 4 really memorable races for me. Some go your way, some don't and some are just watching others do it. -- mel

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:08:44 GMT

Donna started a similiar thread a few months ago so instead of rewriting what I posted there... forums.usms.org/showthread.php Hi Didn't meant to try and steal anyone's thunder (or hijack anyone's thread) and I'm not saying that you're implying I did. Intermission............... Just came back from "there". Read all the posts and am continuing this reply. Music............Curtains come up. Resume post................................. As you can probably see I only joined a few days ago and have not reached very far down the more than 150 threads. Donna's thread intentions is just what I meant by "ahem.........starting......'hm 'hm ......this thread". She called it Power swim, I called it memorable, because (details later) I can remember the color of the pool water that day, the feel of the water's temperature, details of strokes, body position, etc... L8R

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:07:21 GMT

1981 - California 3A Southern Section Finals - I was seeded third coming into the meet - Third after prelims - Night of the finals comes around - Most meets through the year that year a gun was used for the starts - East L.A. City College had a fast pool with electronic timing - I was on the blocks waiting for the gun to go off - When the beeper went off I didn't react - Dead last off the blocks - dead last at the 50 - ended up third! Just one of those you want back but can't have!!!!:frustrated:

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:55:28 GMT

Mine (for the masters era) was at the 2000 SC Nationals in Indianapolis. I was swimming the 100 free (my favorite event) and it was just one of those races when everything came together. The first 50 seemed effortless and I remember telling my self to kick it home. I felt like I swam right thru the wall at the finish and after regaining my senses felt like I had indeed left every ounce of energy in the pool. It was and still is my masters PB. I've had a few of these over the years....but none since I was in high school or college. I've had two experiences where I felt like I swam a perfect 200 freestyle before....both times they were legs of an 800 free relay. When I was 17 or 18 I swam the lead off 200 at Junior Nationals on our 800 free relay (that ended up winning BTW!!) and I went 1:42.6 (this was in 1982 or 1983 I think). The other 200 leg of an 800 free relay was when I anchored our 800 free relay at the conference championships my senior year in college and I went 1:39 something (with a relay start of course).....Both times I felt like I was barely exerting any energy at all on the first 100 yet I still seemed to have a very long smooth stroke with a low SPL....then I simply opened up the carburator a bit on the second 100 (and intensified my kick a bit) and came close to even splitting both races....Thats one of the reasons why I said the 200 free was one of my favorite events on some other thread here recently....b/c I have fond memories of swimming that race correctly (or at least it felt correct that is...LOL!!). I never felt nearly as good while swimming a 100 free for some reason....the 100 is too close to being an all out sprint to feel the sensation I felt during those 200 free races I guess? I have a few others....but one left a sour feeling for me b/c even though I felt good on both my 100 fly and 200 fly at conference my senior year in college, I missed my goal times...the 100 fly was hard to swallow b/c breaking the 50 second barrier was such a big deal to me...and then I came up a few tenths short of that goal....Just didn't get out fast enough ....My stroke was more adapted to the 200 fly than it was for raw speed I guess....Oh well, I'll just break 50 seconds in the 100 fly as a Master's swimmer and call it even then...right!!...LOL!:rofl: :rofl: Newmastersswimmer

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:52:31 GMT

Here's my promised story (in case anyone does not remember): I was 20, swimming on the Guezira Club team in Cairo, Egypt. We were the champs (Men's and Ladies' Opens). The Nationals came up and our main competitor, the Heliolido club threw a gauntlet down that we had to pick up (and the federation went along). A 10 x 100m (LCM) Free Relay. I was -at the time- maybe the sixth or seventh fastest sprinter on our team, but ........................... I did not practice regularly. Therefore our coach decided that we would start with our best starter, then from 2nd swimmer up to anchor, go with me as number 2 then with good, better, best and superduper. He did explain to me that he wasn't sure I could do my best time of 1:04.2 and that's why he was giving the team eight opportunities to make up for my poor performance ("if it came to that", he had the kindness to say). Our lead swimmer finishes second to Heliolido's by about 5 meters. Here I am on the block, waiting for him, and watching Heliolido's number 2 swimming away. I concentrate on not false-starting and getting DQ'ed. Back then, goggles were a thing that we only saw used by Scuba Divers and had only heard that swimmers used. One advantage of swimming without goggles is that you get better peripheral (if somewhat blurred) vision. Somehow, once I hit the water, I completely forgot that I was supposed to -more or less- give only 98% going out so as to have something left in the tank for the 2nd 50 and I went all out. I can remember that first 50m of mine so clearly. I breathe on my left and Heliolido was to our right but out of my right eye I could see -far away and ahead- the other guy's kicking feet and the whitewater he was producing and I was gaining ground. I caught up with him at the turn and even now, as I type, I can see him, to my left, falling behind. I touched about 5m ahead of him. The wonderful part about this story is that we kept that lead up to the last touch (plus or minus a few centimetres). Needless to say all my nine team-mates made me feel like a king that day (and that evening at the party). My non-official (relay) time was better than my official PB by ..... Oh! ..... around four seconds. The coach said, "1 Minute Zero" (in French, BTW). I can still see the colour of the pool water that day, still smell the weak chlorine (they had weakened it for the Championship), still remember the water rushing by my eyes as I breathed, the turn, the touch as I looked back at their number 2 as our number 3 was flying over me. Was it George B. Shaw who said, "Youth is a wonderful thing. Pity it's wasted on the young."? If I knew then what I think I know now, I now know I would have practiced then. There's a tune that's been popping in my head since, two, three paragraphs ago. "Thanks for the memories". This Forum has given me the opportunity to relive that race, occasion, day (and let's not forget the celebratory party). Thanks

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:42:08 GMT

In highshool I was racing my intown arch rival in the 200IM during the leage championships. It was neck and neck and I ultimately pulled it out on the last lenght of free. I just realized I love swimming IM's. I can't wait to be in shape enough to swim one in a masters race. Got Boost

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:37:22 GMT

Swimming 2530 yds. of 400IM in the 2007 Postal is my all time best race ever. When you are having a good day, everything comes together and you can accomplish miracles. In addition, being inspired by my coaches Paul Huntinger and Dren Geer was a powerfull motivator for that race. Indeed, psychology many times determines the difference between an outstanding versus a good performance. Swim the IM in the Postal; it's great fun!:wave:

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:34:02 GMT

(Masters swim): Probably at Michigan State Champs a couple years ago... I was 6 weeks pregnant and just starting to get morning sickness - and I took 5 seconds off of my 100 back. I was in an outside lane - and I could remember, how the heck am I beating the girl next to me? All of my other swims were AWFUL, so it was just a little confusing. I felt strong and I hit all my turns... when I looked up at the scoreboard - my mouth dropped, I looked up at my husband in the stands and I gave him a big wave - hee!

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:40:17 GMT

Late 80's, the Masters Canadian Nats (scm) being held where I lived (Vancouver) & I broke my toe (spiral fracture, toe pointing to ceiling) 7 days before. Taping helped with warmup (turns hurt big-time), but tape would come off by the end of race. Did pretty well, but not happy (what if I hadn't...) so when it came to 50m *** I resolved to just forget the pain. Personal best by .3 and new Cdn record 32.67. Toe was interesting...

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:19:30 GMT

A county champ high school meet. . . Beating this gal on the year round National team (who was favored to win) the event. I went into finals seeded third. People were saying that they wanted to "watch me lose." Being the pig headed person that I am, I was going to do everything in my power to prove 'em wrong! Ended up going a best time in an event that was not my event (the 100 free) and beating her by .02. The stands were full and everyone was screaming and on their feet. That makes me smile. That race was won on pure determination as my training did not equal hers. The time was not that great at :54.96, but it was my personal best. She went :54.98. ******* At a year round zone meet as a 14 yr old, I enjoyed going from last place at the 100 mark in the 200 meter fly, to finishing first in the heat and ending up 3rd overall. Nothing like negative splitting the 200 fly and passing 7 other swimmers! Still trying to recapture that feeling/ ability as a masters. I'm a long ways away. :)

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

hrietz — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:57:35 GMT

2003 LC Nationals at Rutgers of all places. I had been having a very bad meet and unexpectedly went a 1:03 in the 100 meter free. My previous best had been 1:05. Same thing happened in 2005 at LC Nationals when I dropped from a 33 to a 31 in the 50 meter fly. Again totally unexpected and shocking...

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

poolraat — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:38:02 GMT

Donna started a similiar thread a few months ago so instead of rewriting what I posted there... forums.usms.org/showthread.php

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

The Fortress — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:36:07 GMT

Two youth swims marking almost the beginning and end of my age group career are very stark in my mind. Because Jaegermeister will appreciate both, I will report them. First, when I was 12, I swam a 1:04.0 in the 100 back (dropping from a 1:07), breaking my own state record and missing the NAG record by .4. I went out in a 30.0, which was faster than my previous best in the 50 back. My coaches were screaming above the blocks so loudly I was almost DQ'd. But the interesting thing is that, as jaegermeister informed me via PM, that time from 1976 is still an age group record with my former swim team in MN. LOL. Second, when I was 17, I swam the 100 meter fly at states at my home town pool where jaegermeister lives and trains. I went into finals seeded fourth and won by several hundedths of a second. I made Nationals cuts. Then I went to college and trashed my shoulder. I don't think I have any revelationary masters swims to report. I'm always limping into meets. I guess I was pretty proud of actually swimming the 100 M fly LC last year without getting DQ'd. I was pretty happy with my 31 in the 50 meter fly with a bandaid on my shoulder last December too. I'll be even happier when I actually get around to swimming the 200 IM.

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

waves101 — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:46:26 GMT

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:30:24 GMT

My most memorable swim was, without doubt, taking 0.7 off my 50m back PB on the opening leg of our medley relay at the masters nationals in 2001. Somehow everyone else took off equally large amounts and we won in a new masters national record time. For everyone on the team to do so well for each other was a huge buzz. And in Stanford I went 57.6 for 100 free LC, which was a total shock as I usually die on my *** for the second 50 but somehow managed to keep it together. I was very happy with that. Both of those meant far more to me than anything I did in the pool pre-masters. Wow your fast Ivor! If your backstroke is as good as your freestyle, then I must humbly pay homage! Newmastersswimmer p.s. I just read the the first page of the UK website you have posted as your signature Ivor....And the article about Beckham kind of slams American soccer (AKA futbol) just a bit now don't you think??....LOL!! We did make it to the quarter finals in the 2002 World Cup now didn't we? Germany got a way with a hand ball in the second half (just ask Beckenbaur) otherwise the U.S. team might have made it all the way....right! But still the MLS has some pretty good talent (even without the addition of Beckham)...so that article wasn't really all that nice now was it?...LOL!

RE: Your best, most memorable swim/race and why.....

Former Member — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:17:34 GMT

1500 short course meters; Walnut Creek, Oct. 2004. I hadn't done a meet in a while so I was a little nervous. I even started from the wall because I hadn't been working on starts and wasn't feeling particularly comfortable with the blocks. Looking back, I knew I was going to have a good race during warm-up and sure enough - I came in 2nd overall! The race felt "smart" and I just felt really good through the whole thing and finished strong. PS: Hi Karen Duggan! Missed you at swim camp....:p