Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:52:36 GMT

Karlene Thank you! Sorry if I don't remember "your face" - my first meet was like a blur, but I do remember talking to you! Thanks for being so nice! I'll look for you at the meet!!! ;) indyswimbag I train by myself now at MAC (Memorial and Dairy Ashford area) and also swim at UofH 2 mornings a week with a private instructor when they have 50 meter set up and the blocks. I would LOVE a training buddy!!!!!!! Thank you! Are you going to the Nat?

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

indyswimbag — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:21:02 GMT

I was just rereading everyones responses and noticed that you are here in Houston gerdrick....where I am inside the loop down by kirby/dunlavy...do you practice with a group or on your own? if you ever wanted a training buddy feel free to look me up....:wave:

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:54:24 GMT

It seems like the psych sheets did the exact opposite for you. Don't let your placing on a list get you down. Make your first goal be to achieve personal bests. Your second goal should be to not get DFL on your events. This is a family thread, so I won't tell you what "DFL" is if you don't know. The best thing about masters is no one ever laughs at the person who finishes last. If you're a teenager at a USAS nationals, you're often forced to walk back to the hotel for getting DFL. At masters, your team cheers for you -- for finishing. So don't be nervous about what will happen. Just have fun. So Jeff was avoiding DFL the inspiration for your SCY Nats performance and subsequent "USMS Swiimer" centre-fold photo shoot? ;) :laugh2:

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

knelson — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:46:03 GMT

Except me! Can someone PM me or explain it in family friendly terms? Think "dead f-ing last."

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Karlene — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:44:26 GMT

My first Nationals was at the Woodlands in 1990 so this is sort of my "come full circle" Nationals. I'm at the top of my age group and not swimming very well right now. As Fort so aptly said, if we only raced when we were at our best we wouldn't be entering very many meets. So I wouldn't think of staying home. It's my opportunity to visit with the many friends I've made at Nationals over the past 18 years. I met you briefly at your first meet. I watched your breaststroke event and introduced myself before Ande took you to the warm-up lanes for some pointers. As you can already tell from the discussion forum, masters swimmers are a very friendly, non-judgemental group. I am also with the Texas branch of Indy Swim Fit. Look for Bridget and me poolside. Just swim for yourself, do your best and, most of all, have fun!!!!

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:55:21 GMT

GO FOR IT! Great idea Jayhawk, I hope not to put it into practice but at least sighting won't be a problem:joker: - Thomas

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

m2tall2 — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:21:55 GMT

Great attitude, Bridget! Good luck! :bouncing: If everyone waited around for their training to be perfect, we'd never swim meets. I haven't done much LCM training either, and I'm giving it a go at zones. Wish I could have gotten to Nats to meet the folks there. Everyone knows what DFL means ... what Jeff said! Except me! Can someone PM me or explain it in family friendly terms?

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:08:52 GMT

Thank you guys!!!! You are the greatest! :angel: Just a bit more info about me...well, this is going to be my second meet EVER and the first LCM EVER. I got seriously into swimming 2 years ago, but growing up in a country where you HAD to be first at whatever you do imprinted this idea in my head that is best quoted from one of my favorite movies: "If you're not first, you're last". I need to work on my attitude!;) imspoiled I'll try to look for you! Thanks everyone!:wave:

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:48:57 GMT

I am used to being the slowest in my age group. I think I was seeded the slowest in all of my events at SC Nationals. And I've come in last in so many open water swims that I've lost count. There are some advantages to that, though. They usually have escort canoes or kayaks stationed along the course. They paddle in behind the last swimmer. If I know that I'm last, I just tell one of the paddlers to "stay on my left and paddle in a straight line to the finish." That way I don't ever have to lift my head to see where I'm going. Also, remember that without the swimmers like you and me, those fast swimmers wouldn't look NEARLY so good... :) Anna Lea

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:23:19 GMT

That what I like about open water. With 600 swimmers in a race, everyone is just thrilled to make it to the other side.

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:34:17 GMT

It's hard to be upset about swimming a PB time...not impossible, but hard.

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

The Fortress — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:55:53 GMT

HEY!!! I was right there with you thinking that I shouldn't go because my training has been...welll a little less than optimal and I haven't swum long course in over 2 years....making all sorts of excuses...:doh: then I decided that I was just going to go have fun and see my teammates again because they are coming all the way from indiana...and it will be interesting to see how I do after a long abscence from LCM....I am also at the bottom of my age group (35-39) and you know what....it doesn't matter....I am going for the fun...the fact that I might get to meet afew of the cool people that are on the site..and just because I like to swim....it's going to be a great time no matter what....if any one want to say Hi...I am bridget bailie and I swim for Indyswimfit....even here in the great state of Texas where I currently reside.:wine: Great attitude, Bridget! Good luck! :bouncing: If everyone waited around for their training to be perfect, we'd never swim meets. I haven't done much LCM training either, and I'm giving it a go at zones. Wish I could have gotten to Nats to meet the folks there. Everyone knows what DFL means ... what Jeff said!

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Muppet — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:19:56 GMT

Darn Foxy Lady!:bouncing:

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Jim Clemmons — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:16:27 GMT

Your second goal should be to not get DFL on your events. This is a family thread, so I won't tell you what "DFL" is if you don't know. Just in case, it doesn't stand for "Done Finished Last".

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:08:06 GMT

Thank you all so very much!!!! I guess I'll go and just swim for the fun of it! :cheerleader: imspoiled Thanks! Is there a way I can find you at Woodlands? It would be cool to meet for real! :) Catherine Anna- I'll be there with my team, PAFC. We generally wear red or blue caps with PAFC on them, so you can look for them. My coach usually has a banner with him as well. Pretty sure it reads "Pennypack Aquatic & Fitness". I'm in the 35-39 age group (but don't tell SwimStud--he thinks I'm 25), swimming all the 50s, the 100 back, and the 1500 free. Look for me behind the blocks. It looks like our events will be pretty close together. Dana

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

indyswimbag — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:00:42 GMT

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:45:14 GMT

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:29:31 GMT

That is a pretty awesome thing to be doing with your Dad. Enjoy. :) Thanks. Based on last year's times, if he swims the 1500 on Monday he can get a top ten world ranking in his age group. He's still undecided about that one--he had his hip replaced in October, but he's been swimming 2500/day lately.

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:25:08 GMT

You should definately go! You don't have to win, or even place to have a good time. Besides, one good swim could change everything. I went to SCY Nats in May and didn't expect to place in anything. I just wanted to swim in a fast pool with a good taper and see what kind of PB times I could do. To my surprise (and delight!) I placed 8th in the 50 *** (seeded 14th). It is not one of my best events, but it is a swim I will always remember. Go. Have fun. Try to achieve personal goals. Don't worry about seed times or the order of finish. Based on the number of entries in your events, it looks like you'll bring home medals. Think of the bragging rights! Good luck! I'll see you at the Woodlands:woot:! Dana

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:17:05 GMT

I'll go if you go. I just saw the pscyh (-out) sheets--apparently it will take a 4:40 in the 400 Free to place in my age group (45-49). Who are these guys? The way I felt in practice yesterday I was ready to scratch, but I won't, mainly because I want to see my dad haul in the medals in the 85-89 age group. That is a pretty awesome thing to be doing with your Dad. Enjoy. :)

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:49:06 GMT

I'll go if you go. I just saw the pscyh (-out) sheets--apparently it will take a 4:40 in the 400 Free to place in my age group (45-49). Who are these guys? The way I felt in practice yesterday I was ready to scratch, but I won't, mainly because I want to see my dad haul in the medals in the 85-89 age group. hehe you're way faster than my god knows what time...

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:40:05 GMT

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

ande — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:15:43 GMT

I don't care if you're the best I don't compare you to the rest Just try to be the best you can be and when you do that's good enough for me ~ Ande Rasmussen Do you enjoy swimming? Are you getting positive benefits from it? Do you enjoy improving yourself? Then keep training. Ande ...for I am the slowest in my age group at Nationals. :cry: Are they going to seed us by age or time?

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

Jeff Commings — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:11:19 GMT

RE: Maybe I just shouldn't swim....

swimr4life — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:29:18 GMT

Race for you only. You can't control what the other swimmers do.....you can only control yourself! Do your best and have fun! :woot: