I am considering doing a couple events at the Colonies Zone meet at Rutgers, but I have to admit to being a little concerned about the following:
1. I'm a slow swimmer, and while this has not stopped me from going into smaller, low-key meets, I don't know how it would work for a championship meet. The events I'm considering are the 100 and/or 200 free, and the best I've done in the 100 is something in the low 2 mins., for the 200, 4:21 or 4:22. I recently had a coach do a video analysis of my stroke and he made some very helpful suggestions, but of course I don't look for miracles by December 8. Obviously I want to improve on these times, but would I be totally out of my league in a Zone meet like this? Or are there others getting aroudn these same times (hey, it's okay if those others are 95... just don't want to be totally by myself in the pool as the officials look nervously from their watches to me and back).
2. I know I have to get past my anxiety about getting on the starting block--I've done some dives in practice but not recently... and when I did, I felt very uncomfortable, always afraid I'd slip. In past meets I've done either in-water starts or at most would dive off the side of the pool, but maybe that's kind of dorky for a championship meet. Not that I've ever let the dorkiness of a particular choice stop me if I feel it's the best choice for me... ;) But just in case I decide to try the starting block, do any of you have tips on (a) keeping the nerves under control and (b) getting a safe, not too awful looking dive? Coordination has never been one of my strengths, but I do want to be open to trying things that don't feel comfortable.
Thanks for the input! btw, I'm going to meet with the above-mentioned coach for a few more sessions. He's terrific! Maybe I could ask him to talk me through some starts.
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Former Member
For the issue of dealing with the slope of the starting block, I have found that the staggered foot start helps a lot. I had used the "both feet on the edge" method forever but just started trying the staggered method. I'm amazed how much more stability it gives me. I don't have to be teetering on the edge of falling forward anymore in order to get a decent start.
The other main thing to get comfortable with ahead of time is keeping your chin in your chest upon entry into the water, in order to prevent your goggles from coming off. It's actually pretty easy to do but for some beginners it causes them to dive deeper than they desire.
Good luck either way. But for sure go to the meet and have some fun. At the last Zones I went to I saw several folks diving from the side or starting from in the water. No worries.
For the issue of dealing with the slope of the starting block, I have found that the staggered foot start helps a lot. I had used the "both feet on the edge" method forever but just started trying the staggered method. I'm amazed how much more stability it gives me. I don't have to be teetering on the edge of falling forward anymore in order to get a decent start.
The other main thing to get comfortable with ahead of time is keeping your chin in your chest upon entry into the water, in order to prevent your goggles from coming off. It's actually pretty easy to do but for some beginners it causes them to dive deeper than they desire.
Good luck either way. But for sure go to the meet and have some fun. At the last Zones I went to I saw several folks diving from the side or starting from in the water. No worries.
