What is stopping you from competing?

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 16:54:36 GMT

Because once you switch from pool meets (waiting around on deck for hours to swim for a minute or so . . . ) to open water meets, where you get up early, swim a few miles, and then go for breakfast and beers . . . well, it's hard to go back. tooth

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 16:20:05 GMT

Postal meets are what I enjoy doing. I can make them fit my time restraints. They also let me see how I am doing and provide results for comparison. Best of all usually you a get a shirt for your efforts. The LeTour De Pool shirt has gotten lots of positive comments from non swimmers and is a presonal favorite. My excuse for not swimming for the rest of this summer is I broke my arm, wrist, and hand a week ago. The surgery was Tuesday and was not a lot of fun. The X Ray looks like a spring rake running from the hand area to the middle of the forearm. Today a lot of the pain has subsided and I am working on finger movement until I see the MD next week.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

knelson — Sat, 26 May 2007 12:12:18 GMT

I just don't like being at a pool for a whole day, swimming a little, and waiting for most of the day. I agree with you there. Often I'll enter all my events in the first half of the meet so I can swim and get out of there. Nancy: you might want to consider the Pentathlon meet in Oak Harbor on September 23rd: www.swimpna.org/.../09232007_SCM_Pentathalon.pdf Not a whole lot of pool meets in the summer in our neck of the woods, but if you like longer swimming there are quite a few open water events. Those are lots of fun and you won't even have to worry about diving in! :)

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 08:46:48 GMT

Sam, yep!! Coach Hague is the our coach. He's been really helpful.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

smontanaro — Sat, 26 May 2007 08:15:30 GMT

I just don't like being at a pool for a whole day, swimming a little, and waiting for most of the day. That's one reason I like the postal swims (another is that I can't really sprint so there aren't that many events at a masters meet which appeal to me). Do it and go home. Also, you get to schedule them to fit your schedule as opposed to deciding between going to the meet or going to your kid's hockey game. Skip Montanaro

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 07:25:10 GMT

I contacted the high school swim coach - who was my HS swim coach back in the"day". He lets me come in and practice starts, then told me to come and do time trials that he does for his teams. I now practice at least 1 time a week with his grade school kids - some of who are pretty fast. It doesn't bother me to swim with 6th graders, we have 3 - 4 moms that come swim pretty regularly. Concho, are you swimming with David Hague? If so, please tell him hello for me. Great guy and he coached there while I was in Midland in the 1980's. Thanks!

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Sat, 26 May 2007 06:21:22 GMT

:fish2: Thanks to all who are really encouraging me to "jump in, the water's fine"! Kirk -- I had thought of entering the Pentathalon but my other activity passion (cycling) has me tied up for that weekend. I am planning to do the Columbia River swim (it is non competitive) over Labor Day weekend, and am thinking about doing the lake swim on Orcas Island the following weekend. I'lll be gone all of July and August so will not be around to join OW swims in our area during that time. I welcome any and all info about other swims happening. Concho -- your idea of checking into some help from the schools may work for my diving phobia. and Fort -- I am chuckling about your mishaps early on now that I read how much you swim and how successful you are. And InnerFish, I am very interested in Senior Games -- the first one I am able to think about joining is also in September! Looks like I am going to have a busy month. I like your "glacially slow" description and will probably be using it! Thanks everyone.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

kaffrinn — Sat, 26 May 2007 03:56:25 GMT

Pregnancy! And, I hate to swim in meets when I haven't been training well. (Which is usually how it ends up, but I still hate it!)

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:13:24 GMT

I'm simply trying to get my nerve up to swim in a meet:violin: It would help if I had someone to go with me as support!! I also need to see if I can still dive:whiteflag: into the pool. It has been YEARS (decades actually) since I have done that, and I have not had an opportunity to do so anywhere. Nancy, just do it!! I did! I had no one on the side lines cheering me on, I do it for myself. I started back 1 yr ago after 27yrs and 2 kids....I started at the "Y" then heard about what our High school coach does for Master swimmers. I contacted the high school swim coach - who was my HS swim coach back in the"day". He lets me come in and practice starts, then told me to come and do time trials that he does for his teams. I now practice at least 1 time a week with his grade school kids - some of who are pretty fast. It doesn't bother me to swim with 6th graders, we have 3 - 4 moms that come swim pretty regularly. Contact your local HS or College (if they have a swim team), you maybe surprised at what they will let you do. My Coach just wants people to swim, and if you want to be coached he'll do that too. I had time trials just this week and alot of the adults who came to watch their kids were wondering why these "older" people were swimming and how can they do the same. I get alot of looks and support all at the same time. It's fun...

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:50:50 GMT

I'm simply trying to get my nerve up to swim in a meet:violin: It would help if I had someone to go with me as support!! I also need to see if I can still dive:whiteflag: into the pool. It has been YEARS (decades actually) since I have done that, and I have not had an opportunity to do so anywhere. After having recently been a volunteer at Nationals, I realize that I can do this swim meet thing (slowly, but oh well), :shakeshead: and no one laughs at anyone. and there is quite a variety of abilities and speed as well as sizes, shapes and ages. Now I just need to find one that is nearby and will fit into my schedule! Another thing I have been "waiting" for is to perhaps join a master's team to get more experience and better training (me as my own trainer only gets me so far) but there is not a team that swims at a time of day and is close enough for me to get to. The time of day will soon change as I am nearing retirement, and will be finding a team to work out with after this summer. I am quite interested in trying my first meet and seeing where it goes from there. So I appreciate reading all your stories and support for we who have yet to do so.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:04:26 GMT

I don't think any one has to fear being laughed at if they try. It is me - I do not want to swim if I cannot swim well. I have set my goals to swiim as close as I can to 1 min for the 100m and just do not want to swim slower than 1:10 and right now I am too slow to do 1:10. My 50 fly is also too slow 36 sec for a 50m I want to swim 32. I cannot get my time below 31 for 50m fr at this time, my goal is 28. I would like to be a winner but that is me laughing at myself.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:40:51 GMT

No one will laugh at you. Everyone will be supportive(unless you are George,we all are waiting to laugh at George):rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: We'll point at George too...so that everyone can join in... Nobody laughs at anyone...well except once you've gotten to know them and you then only swim 6 lengths instead of 8 in a 200...:laugh2: Actually the worst thing you'll ever hear is an "oooh" if you belly flop your dive but that more of a "that's gonna leave a mark" ooh because everyone has done it.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:18:07 GMT

I will not enter until I am in shape and able to win in my age group. I do not want to make a fool of myself. I haven't been to a swim meet - I am new to swimming. Do people stand on the sidelines laughing if you have a poor time? I used to compete in dressage and never found people pointing out my errors or laughing when I didn't finish in the ribbons. This statement from Geochuck scares me.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Former Member — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:46:16 GMT

I will not enter until I am in shape and able to win in my age group. I do not want to make a fool of myself.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

aztimm — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:35:32 GMT

I just don't like being at a pool for a whole day, swimming a little, and waiting for most of the day. For 3-4 years, it seemed I did 3 meets/year, and got burned out from the whole thing. I have also done an open water swim, and plan to do more of those...you get in, swim, and are done. I may do a meet here or there now, but I swim (and lift and run) to keep in shape. My time is more valuable to me now to either get caught up on things around the house on weekends, or be out traveling somewhere.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

FindingMyInnerFish — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:24:51 GMT

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!

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

The Fortress — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:23:56 GMT

I'm simply trying to get my nerve up to swim in a meet:violin: It would help if I had someone to go with me as support!! I also need to see if I can still dive:whiteflag: into the pool. It has been YEARS (decades actually) since I have done that, and I have not had an opportunity to do so anywhere. Don't worry, Nancy! Just go! Everyone is very supportive. And no one really cares how fast or slow you go. My two year masters' anniversary is June 1. I swam unattached for most of my first year, not joining a team until 13 months ago. I went to all my first meets alone. And I had terrible trouble diving in. I lost my goggles several times. I had to crawl out of the pool twice (contacts) and got DQ'd. But I liked competing nonetheless. It is much more fun, however, now that I know people. :wave: Like Kirk and Jeff, the meets help focus my training and prevent me from slacking off too much. I would love to compete much more than I do, but the reason I don't (Peter, be quiet) is ... no secret ... kids, kids, kids. My kids have tons of sports events on the weekends that prevent me from going to many meets (even nationals). I usually, not always, have to miss something of theirs when I go -- which I don't do too often. But I am planning to blow off one of my kid's swim meets on July 1. Have to go to Muppet's meet!!

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Jeff Commings — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:46:25 GMT

On the contrary, I feel like I have to swim meets to keep me going. I find if I don't have some competition somewhere in the future to train for I start making excuses why not to train and just generally get lazy. My sentiments exactly.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

knelson — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:53:43 GMT

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

dorothyrde — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:30:25 GMT

Mirabella, heavens no. What I see at Masters meets is when people are not swimming they are either listening to headphones in their own zone, chit chatting with friends, or cheering a swimmer on in the pool. I have never seen anyone ridicule anyone else. Of course, I don't go to many meets, but I did go to 2004 Nationals and people were very supportive. I don't go to meets because of the time it takes. Driving two hours in the wee hours of the morning, meet takes 4-6 hours hours, than 2 hours back. Just shoots the whole day, and half my weekend is gone. Many times the meets conflict with family stuff. If I stay over night, there is two days gone, and money gone. So maybe when I am older, and the kids are out(that does happen doesn't it?), I can do more meets.

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Allen Stark — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:25:32 GMT

No one will laugh at you. Everyone will be supportive(unless you are George,we all are waiting to laugh at George):rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

RE: What is stopping you from competing?

Donna — Fri, 25 May 2007 06:03:26 GMT

A number of those I swim with are burned out on swimming meets, yet others just make up excuses for not competing (I'm not ready yet, I'm too slow, I'm too heavy, etc). Masters swimmers need to realize that we are starting new as swimmers, everything we did earlier does not matter. I like seeing improvement and in order to do that I needed to know where I was starting from so 4 weeks after getting in the pool I did my first meet. With a bad back and having difficulty bending over for a start let alone doing flip turns, couldn't pull myself out of the water and being 220 lbs I did my first meet. Not every meet produces best times for me but I usually focus on one or two per season, the rest are just practice at racing (doing starts, experimenting with stroke, etc) and supporting the local meets so that there might be more meets available in the future. Lets support our sport! After three years of going to meets by myself, this year I have been lucky enough to have found a few more people from my team to join me and they are actually finding meets to be fun and you meet lots of great people who share a common interest in swimming. Donna