will opening a meet with a 200 kill my other events?

Good move. I meant to get back to you with my take on opening with a 200, which I did last weekend. Our Association meet was in Bend, elevation around 3,300 feet; I train at sea level. I didn't think the altitude would be a big deal, but it was (or at least that's my excuse). I was looking for a 2 minute and small change 200 based on my best SCM time of a 2:19. I took it out OK at 29.06 and 30.79, but I knew I was in trouble at the 100 mark. See if you can spot the piano in this picture: 33.15 and 33.86, to finish just shy of 2:07. I had inexplicably signed up for the 100 ***, which was the next event, and I swam it 10 heats after the 200. Note to self: Never go back to back with anything after a 200. I missed my seed time in the *** by about 5 seconds. I think the 200 continued to cost me throughout the day, maybe .5 or so in the 50 free. I swam the 500 first the following day, but had learned my lesson by then. I opened it very slowly and easily and negative split it throughout, feeling much more comfortable. I wasn't worried about my time, and it served as a good warmup for the later events. I think the 200 can be a good warmup for the 100 if you swim it smooth and easy, descending your splits but holding back enough to have some gas for the 100 -- but that is awfully tough to do when you're in a race. If you dump both the 200 and 50, try and get a good warmup in so that you are ready to go for it when the horn sounds for your 100. Good luck!

Good move. I meant to get back to you with my take on opening with a 200, which I did last weekend. Our Association meet was in Bend, elevation around 3,300 feet; I train at sea level. I didn't think the altitude would be a big deal, but it was (or at least that's my excuse). I was looking for a 2 minute and small change 200 based on my best SCM time of a 2:19. I took it out OK at 29.06 and 30.79, but I knew I was in trouble at the 100 mark. See if you can spot the piano in this picture: 33.15 and 33.86, to finish just shy of 2:07. I had inexplicably signed up for the 100 ***, which was the next event, and I swam it 10 heats after the 200. Note to self: Never go back to back with anything after a 200. I missed my seed time in the *** by about 5 seconds. I think the 200 continued to cost me throughout the day, maybe .5 or so in the 50 free. I swam the 500 first the following day, but had learned my lesson by then. I opened it very slowly and easily and negative split it throughout, feeling much more comfortable. I wasn't worried about my time, and it served as a good warmup for the later events. I think the 200 can be a good warmup for the 100 if you swim it smooth and easy, descending your splits but holding back enough to have some gas for the 100 -- but that is awfully tough to do when you're in a race. If you dump both the 200 and 50, try and get a good warmup in so that you are ready to go for it when the horn sounds for your 100. Good luck!