The thread on how long a meet lasts/seed times got me thinking. Do forumites like a fiercely competitive race or heat or do we swim our own races largely ignoring those in other lanes (especially since seed times may not be accurate)?
For myself, I enjoy a good race or a grudge match, particularly against someone I know. :lolup: But I can also swim my own race, ignore others and focus on my own times. At SCY zones last May, I was so intent on my 50 free, I didn't even notice that the adjacent lane was empty until I watched the race on video with Mr. Fort. I was perfectly oblivious. At my last meet, in my 50 fly grudge race against Muppet, some guy in my heat beat me by .2, but I couldn't have cared less. I was happy with my time.
Former Member
I always try to race my own race (which is overall the best strategy), but it is easy to get caught up racing others in your heat; especially if you know them, are in the same age group and are really matched up well speedwise. Freestyle (because you can see everyone) is really the only stroke where I have had this problem. I remember one instance (and learned a valuable lesson) in a mixed heat for the 100 free where one of my teammates was in lane 7 and I was in 6. We had both turned in 55s. Her start, turn and underwater are significantly better than mine. I swam a poor race all because of paying too much attention to what she was doing off the walls. I would catch up a little between the walls then see the gap widen at the 2nd and 3rd turn. I distinctly remember watching her SDKing off the turns, instead of concentrating on my own. That's as bad as it gets when being taken out of your own strategy. I remember more about her swim than I do of mine.
I did, however have a positive experience in a 50 free LCM at another meet even though I paid a little too much attention to the field. Lane 2 of 10. I breathe to the right (three times this race) and could see how close I was to the faster entries(almost even) and got really pumped during the swim. Finished 4th but turned in a PB.
i try to break my best times. i usually put my seed times a little faster to help push me more into swimming faster. in distance races i try to pace myself with them.
I LOVE having some competition right next to me (or in my sights on a flip turn). While I don't let anyone else distract my own particular race plan, I like knowing where I am and always have my best races with close competition.
I tend to swim my own races not paying attention to the competition. The only exception is when I am racing my training buddy in the 1000 which I did 3 years ago and will do again at Nationals in the 1500. He entered my time plus a second for his time.
In our 1500 race I am the tortoise and he is the haire. Should be interesting and we all knows who wins that race. I will disregard his swimming until I start catching him probably somewhere around the 800 mark. Then the race starts for me.
This is the only time I will actually race the competition. Grudge match!
This is a very good thread. For me, I like to race myself. In many meets you never know what ages are in your heat. I have the tendency to race my heat as opposed to my race which can have disastrous results. However, if you have someone next to you who is pulling you along and you are racing your race, it can be beneficial.
The exception to this rule of mine is when gull is next to me. Then it's toss out the plan and just try to win.
Up until the GB Masters this year, I had always raced against the clock. However, in the 1500m, I swam a 10s personal best and was really happy - I had paced my race really well and let the field go at their crazy early pace, then hauled them all back and whupped the lot of them in the final 500m. I also knew that this was good enough to secure third place in my age group - the only faster swimmers were in later heats. Sure enough, they both beat me but second place was only 0.56s faster!
I then found myself racing the second place guy (Bob) in the 800m - this time we were in adjacent lanes and had a really great competition as our race strategies played out. Unfortunately, it turned out that Bob is just plain faster than me (or was it his full body suit v my jammers?) and he took 1.5s out of me in the last 100m. However, this was the best fun I've had since returning to masters swimming. Had a good chat with Bob after the race and am looking forward to our next head-to-head at the ASA masters in October.
I want to have the philosophy of "swim your own Race".I want to have the philosophy of"the only one I'm racing is myself".I want to have the philosophy of"you can only control what you do,you can't control who shows up or how fast they are."I REALLY do,but as soon as the psych sheets are out I start worrying,plotting,and/or cursing.I don't want to be that way,I just am.:dunno:
"Hi my name is Allen and I'm addicted to competition.":doh:
I am always pushing myself for PB times and ways to improve my race--better splits, turns, or whatever. Especially in longer races, I've learned not to swim to the competition--it really wrecks my own plans. In a sprint, it's all about the field. I love to finish a 50 and not know who touched first.
Unlike Fort, I prefer not to swim in a heat with someone I know well. It's much easier to stay focused when the swimmers around me are complete strangers.
Dana
Hi Allen!
Um, me too! The second the psych sheets are out I start plotting. In advance of the race, I want to know where the competition is and whether there's a chance to smoke them. Reasoning that knowing what it will take to win helps me prepare. But, on race day, I need to close my mind to all the other stuff and just focus on the plan. Unfortunately, I've never been the type of swimmer who can look at the heat sheets and say, "It's gonna take a 26.5 to win." Then, hop in and swim a 26.5.
