My first meet in 24 years!

Thanks for the encouragement George and Fortress. I keep telling myself it is going to be fun no matter what! I am keeping my options open to scratch an event if needs be, but hopefully I won't have to. You are quite right: I need some baseline times so that I have something to improve on. It has been so long since I competed I really can't remember accurately what times I used to do. (I can remember to the second but not to the hundredth of the second). Moreover, I don't even have inaccurate times for the 200 free and 100 fly! I really just threw in those two events to challenge myself. Thank god there is no 200 fly because I might just be tempted to do that too and that race demands energy reserves I just don't have, yet. In fact, if you looked at the programme you would have noticed that there is no event longer than 200m. Not sure of the reason for this. Will have to wait and see. sincerely Syd

I agree with George, press on Syd! I had the same exact 24 year hiatus. Very nervous the week before my first meet. Hadn't used a starting block until warm up. I signed up for 5 events and scratched one. Just hop in and get some baseline times. You'll feel great. Meets can really keep you motivated in practice, and it's good to set goals. Nothing to do but do it!! P.S. I almost never feel as fit as I should. And most races are not error-free. There are always things to improve/fix. Don't let the little things get in the way of the bigger thing: You're out there competing and hopefully having fun.

Good Luck - Press On.. I remember my first meet after not racing for about 25 years. I was fine until I got on the starting block. It seemed like I was starting from a 10m diving tower. I suddenly remembered that I had not done a diving start for over 35 years. During all the years of racing in Marathon races we were either in the water, or run in from the beach starts.

Git'r Done, Syd! Good Luck and have fun!

good luck go get 'em swim fast ande I signed up for the Taiwan LCM Masters meet on the 20 - 21st of next month. Here's the link for anyone who is interested (and who can read Chinese): www.masterswim.org.tw/new-9.htm. I've entered the 50,100 and 200 Free and the 50 and 100 Fly. I can already smell the chlorine, hear the starter's pistol and feel the butterflies in my stomach! Come to think of it they probably don't have starter's pistols anymore. It is probably all electronic. I haven't even got there and already I am starting to have all sorts of doubts. Have I entered too many events? Am I fit enough? My starts and turns are apalling. Are they going to hold up? The last time I, literally, stood on a starting block was 24 years ago. The pool I train in doesn't even have them! I have never completed a legal 100m Fly either. Well not in competition anyway and I have only recently started to incorporate fly into my training! Actually I am more worried about the 200m free though. I never used to swim that competitively either and it will be my first event. I am worried it is going to tire me out for the rest of the events and I won't perform at my best. Anyway despite all my worries I am actually really excited and now have even more of a purpose when training. Syd

Thanks for the encouragement Blackbeard's Peg and Red60! Low expectations (from a speed standpoint) are appropriate, so no matter what happens you'll be okay with the result and ready to improve from there./QUOTE] Yes! As it is the first time in 24 years I promised myself I am going to be lenient with myself! The reality of it all is starting to sink in now and I am starting to get all worked up about what I should be eating and how I should be training etc, etc. I can't really remember what I did 'way back when' and it probably isn't appropriate now so I am just going to do 'what feels right and good' and take it from there. Next time I will know better. Thanks for your support. Syd

Good luck Syd:cheerleader:. I think it is great that you have entered a meet. I have not swam for 22 years and just got back at it in September. I dont think I am ready for a meet yet but hope one day to enter some. I am just trying to get used to the early mornings and the practices. I cannot wait to hear how you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Katie

Congrats on getting up the courage to enter! Enjoy the experience! I am not a fast swimmer at all, but I have entered some meets and set my own goals, not worrying about how fast others will be, and it's great to just give it a try, find out what I can do and what I want to work on for next time. And there have been several "next times"! As you'll find, I'm sure! A master's coach I used to work with headed his workout sheets, "Do the best that you can do. Don't worry about what others are doing." It's kept me together in countless races, not only swimming but running as well! I have to confess, I don't even use the start blocks. A swimmer friend told me that one could start in the water, and so I have done that and have seen others do so as well--or just dove off the side of the pool, not the blocks. Now my "next time goal" is to start off the block. (I know I probably have looked wimpy starting in water, but so be it... It was a step forward for me to even enter, and I wasn't going to worry what it looked like to others.) But whatever start or events you choose, may it all be fun!

Findingmyinnerfish, Cathlaur and Ande, thanks for your support! 17 days to go and its foremost on my mind right now. :groovy: Syd

Don't worry about your food intake. Eat what tastes good and does not make you barf. Well balanced protein,fats and carbs. It sounds like you are ready. Once you hit the water you will know what you have to do.