The other day I was walking to my car when I noticed the car parked next to me had a vanity license plate "SWIMFLY". I walked up to the man driving the car and we started talking about swimming and competing.
He said he swam at Nationals in 2001 and he was waiting until he turned 60 to swim at another meet. I told him that he should go to more meets because they are really fun. This guy is a really great swimmer. He still holds the State record in all of the butterfly events and he won the majority of his races at nationals.
This got me thinking - what is it that is keeping swimmers from entering races? I realize there are a ton of fitness swimmers who don't want to compete and I understand that. But beyond that what is the reason?
For me personally, I waited to enter my first meet because I didn't think I was fast enough and I didn't want to be embarrassed. I am so sorry it took me so long to go to a race - I think they are really fun.
My first masters' swim meet... I was last in the 50 m. free... unused to long course swimming... my masters' coach changed the seed times I wrote to faster times, so I was with a faster heat than I thought I'd be.... I'd guesstimated more modest times than the ones he substituted... I actually was more flattered than mad at him for his "doctoring" of my seed times--except in the "you rascal, what are you doing to me!" kind of way (said w/ affection).
I have no regrets about that meet. I didn't worry about people laughing at me... I was kind of laughing at myself (in a kind way) b/c this being my first long-course anything, I was swimming, swimming, swimming, thinking "how long is this pool anyway?" and took a peak up to see how far I'd gone... I was only about 2/3 done and looking up while doing freestyle doesn't add to the aesthetic beauty of one's swimming form... but at least it satisfied my curiosity.
Normally, I don't compete in a lot of meets, only b/c there aren't that many near where I live. Fortunately, some Senior Games swim events are nearby and these are wonderful... they're very low-key and fun, open to anyone over fifty, and nowhere else would I have had the courage to try the 100 IM. I thought "this will be glacially slow but who cares! And it was... glacially slow! But to try a new event was really exhilarating anyway!
I have done some open water races...again there aren't too many near me, but I'm happy if I can get to maybe one or two a year.
I do try to take opportunities when they come along. For instance, a health club in my area had an indoor triathlon, which involved a 15 min. swim (see how far you can go), then 1/2 run, then 1/2 hour on a stationary bike. It was loads of fun! I didn't distinguish myself at all, but got a great workout!
My first masters' swim meet... I was last in the 50 m. free... unused to long course swimming... my masters' coach changed the seed times I wrote to faster times, so I was with a faster heat than I thought I'd be.... I'd guesstimated more modest times than the ones he substituted... I actually was more flattered than mad at him for his "doctoring" of my seed times--except in the "you rascal, what are you doing to me!" kind of way (said w/ affection).
I have no regrets about that meet. I didn't worry about people laughing at me... I was kind of laughing at myself (in a kind way) b/c this being my first long-course anything, I was swimming, swimming, swimming, thinking "how long is this pool anyway?" and took a peak up to see how far I'd gone... I was only about 2/3 done and looking up while doing freestyle doesn't add to the aesthetic beauty of one's swimming form... but at least it satisfied my curiosity.
Normally, I don't compete in a lot of meets, only b/c there aren't that many near where I live. Fortunately, some Senior Games swim events are nearby and these are wonderful... they're very low-key and fun, open to anyone over fifty, and nowhere else would I have had the courage to try the 100 IM. I thought "this will be glacially slow but who cares! And it was... glacially slow! But to try a new event was really exhilarating anyway!
I have done some open water races...again there aren't too many near me, but I'm happy if I can get to maybe one or two a year.
I do try to take opportunities when they come along. For instance, a health club in my area had an indoor triathlon, which involved a 15 min. swim (see how far you can go), then 1/2 run, then 1/2 hour on a stationary bike. It was loads of fun! I didn't distinguish myself at all, but got a great workout!
