I remember swimming two to a lane a couple times back in age group meets and it really isn't that bad. Assuming your lane partner stays to his/her side of the lane, that is.
Having broken both wrists in the last few years, a handslap of either hand could be a racekiller for me. I still experience some pretty sharp pain in the schaphoid area (thats what broke) on occasion.
Its not like we're all not used to swimming this way in practice. But for a race, I still think its a bum deal.
I swam in a 2-per-lane heat of the 1500m at USMS nationals one year. There was only one head-on collision in the meet, and it was where one person in the lane circle swam, and the offender was the other person in my lane.
They removed her from the water, but it was really discouraging to me to take a hard head-on smack and stop still in the water during the first 100m of the race... my time was actually OK, but I swam the last 1400m thinking my race was blown.
Whoever was running the timing system was doing a tremendous job with the touch pads, activating/inactivating them each time a swimmer was coming in for a turn so that only the "right" swimmer would get the touch/split credited. I guess the pads were hooked up to 2 Colorado systems and 2 operators. I had never seen that done and was amazed they could keep it up.
All the more reason to only swim events that are a 100 or less
LOL! I love it. Up until this past weekend I would have agreed with you but the 200 Free is now calling my name as well.
Rock/paper/scissors to see who gets the starting block? :dunno:
Usually you'd start the two swimmers on opposite ends of the pool. That way you won't need to swim side-by-side unless you gain 50 meters on your lanemate.
LOL! I love it. Up until this past weekend I would have agreed with you but the 200 Free is now calling my name as well.
I have thought that the 200 free was calling me every once in a while but it always ends up being the wrong number.
This will be my first Nationals. I have been swimming since October after a 25 year break. I am swimming:
50 Free
100 Free
50 ***
100 ***
50 Fly
In summer league and high school I could only do a 25 fly to get through the IM. Once I took a breath, I would go vertical and it was over. My coach has worked with me this year and I can breath correctly now. I need to work on my kick and speed. This will be my third 50 fly race since November (and in my whole life) and my second LCM 50 fly. Just hoping to get a personal best. I drive up to The Woodlands on Thursday. Really looking forward to it.
Ande,
I'll be there and I am looking forward to meeting you. Your tips have been very helpful in my training.
I'll be doing the 200 Fly, 400 Free, 50 Free, 400 IM and 1500 Free this time. With hopes that my sprinting will get better next year and then I can add some shorter events to my choices.
Donna
