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.
Just a small hint about a mistake a lot of people make at meets. When you are behind the block wiating for your heat to start you will hear whistles from the officials. The first whistle is for people (the heat before) to clear the pool the 2nd whistle is for you to get on the block or up to the edge or in the water, which ever the case may be.
I've noticed around VA meets, a lot of people get up on the block on the 1st whistle and that's not correct.
I for one try to be one of the first up on the blocks so I have time to set feet and play around a bit with foot position. As for getting up on the first whistle, the last time I did that was when it was taking a while for that first whistle to occur. I wanted to get up and set my feet and all, so I did, and got yelled at :p Usually, I'll step up on the step at the first whistle, and then have a head start when the second one happens.
There are plenty of people who jump in the water for backstroke at the wrong whistle.
Just a small hint about a mistake a lot of people make at meets. When you are behind the block wiating for your heat to start you will hear whistles from the officials. The first whistle is for people (the heat before) to clear the pool the 2nd whistle is for you to get on the block or up to the edge or in the water, which ever the case may be.
I've noticed around VA meets, a lot of people get up on the block on the 1st whistle and that's not correct.
I for one try to be one of the first up on the blocks so I have time to set feet and play around a bit with foot position. As for getting up on the first whistle, the last time I did that was when it was taking a while for that first whistle to occur. I wanted to get up and set my feet and all, so I did, and got yelled at :p Usually, I'll step up on the step at the first whistle, and then have a head start when the second one happens.
There are plenty of people who jump in the water for backstroke at the wrong whistle.
