Okay.
Do you like to swim 1 or 2 events per day @ super fast speed at meets (great times)?
Or, do you prefer to swim the max of 4 and 5 events per day (and I mean not just the sprints)?
There are pros and cons to both.
It's so choice/ cool to swim all strokes and distances but at the expense of really fast times. But it's so annoying to get out touched by a competitor who swam 6 laps that day as compared to your 34!
Yeah, depends on your goals. But what do you like to do?!
I think I am kind of the opposite of most people so far in that when it's Zones or a meet where I know my coach wants our team to do well, I try to swim the max number of events allowed so I can contribute a lot of points to the team. There is something strangely satisfying about gutting out the 800 free relay at the end after swimming 7 or 8 individual events and 2 or 3 relays over 3 days when you're whole relay team is all dead together. But at small meets where we aren't trying to win anything, I sometimes swim just 2 events a day so I can have them be my very best effort. I have only been to one Nationals and Worlds, but there I did only my three best things because our relatively small team wasn't trying to get a super high placing.
I'll swim between 3-5, as many as they'll let me! I'm in it for the workout and the fun. I love competing, even if i am dead and lose 50BR grudge matches. If it isn't nationals, its all an extra long lactic acid set anyways.
The way I look at it is that it is good to get in and race when you're exhausted. We swim exhausted all the time at practice, but the racing thing I think helps prepare for that last 150 in the 500 at nationals, or the last 35y of a 100 fly...
Very well put Muppet and a great way to look at things I think.
If it isn't nationals, go for it and swim as much as you can. I'll will help you with nats later! Excellent. Need to get my butt to some Nat meets!
Because I'm just getting back into swimming, I pick one "challenge" event, (i.e., one that I am afraid of) and then swim 3-4 other races just to get a time and experience.
I have noticed that the nationally ranked masters swimmers at the meets I have attended swim around 3 per meet (the one-day meet variety).
I think it depends on what the swimmer wants to get out of the meet. Are you aiming for a record, national qt, top 10 time? If so, then limiting the races is best. For those slow pokes like me, I just want a time as a marker so then next year I have something to look back on.
Because I'm just getting back into swimming, I pick one "challenge" event, (i.e., one that I am afraid of) and then swim 3-4 other races just to get a time and experience.
I have noticed that the nationally ranked masters swimmers at the meets I have attended swim around 3 per meet (the one-day meet variety).
I think it depends on what the swimmer wants to get out of the meet. Are you aiming for a record, national qt, top 10 time? If so, then limiting the races is best. For those slow pokes like me, I just want a time as a marker so then next year I have something to look back on.
Yea. I noticed too that to get into Top 10 (like top 3), most people only swim an event or two a day - there are certain exceptions to this rule and my hats off to those dominating swimmers in each age group! :applaud:
Barb, you are Ironwoman to me with the 1650 AND all those other events you swim in one meet! I would run crying to momma with your line up!
I'm greedy. I like getting into Top 10 and I can't turn down a good race even if my line up is 500 FR/ 100 IM/ 200 FR/ 50 Fly. Well, it isn't nats and I've got more work to do to get into shape (and who knows if the meet will end up being allowed to count for top 10), so I guess that it will be a potpourri of events this weekend! Great advice all! Thank you!!
I prefer to swim no more than three per day. If it's a meet I'm really gunning for good times three is probably my limit. However, I swim plenty of meets that are more or less "training meets" where I'd like to swim fast, but really I'm more in it to get some racing experience under my belt. For these I've got no problem swimming more than three.
I have to admit - 3 is a very nice number of events. When you go to your training meets so to speak, it's a tough thing isn't it? It's kicked my butt in the past (10 events in 2 days).
If it's a taper meet I swim the 3 breaststrokes. If there are events I want to swim after the last breaststroke event I'll swim them. At a non-taper meet I'll usually swim the maximum,for fun and the workout.
Allen,
For me the breaststrokes are nothing for me to make fun of!
Here's how I feel after each breaststroke event:
50 - DEAD
100 - Crying
200 - Run over by a steamroller assuming I finished
You've given me a great idea though which is to try all fly events only for a meet. Thanks!
Plus, you never know who you might end up meeting by swimming these random events. Could be your future spouse. :dunno: :joker:
You know Muppet I though you were smiling at me during the wait for our 50 BR heat...lol :rofl:
Seriously though I did that at zones did events I don't do normally and had a good surprise in how well I did (for me).
For me it depends upon the order of events. Right now I'll gun it for the first race, then just do my best at the other three or four. I agree that since you're paying entry fees and possibly doing a bit of travel, you might as well make the most out of it. Fortunately for me my first race will be 100fly next weekend. It'll be good to get that out of the way.
