I survived. Although my nerves almost got the best of me. Swimming in front of those kids was very nerve wracking to me. I was there all day. Arrived at 6:45 to time. Rested and cheered from noon until 3 and then warmed-up. I took 3 sec off my 400 IM time. I was pleased with that but it didn't feel as smooth as I wanted. I blame that on the long day. :cry:
The blocks at this pool were horrible. Imagine the platform being half size of normal front to back. They were normal width but only about 6 inches deep. You couldn't even get a good track start. Luckily with the 400 the start doesn't matter as much. As I was on the block for the dive-over start the touch pad came off. Nothing like a delay while on this time platform.
Went to workout today and we did a nice long 4400. Stretched everything out and now I feel good.
Alison
Former Member
I have heard that some parents are irritated when elite masters swim at important USA meets, sometimes taking a kids' place during finals. This would not be my issue, as senior QTs are outrageously hard, but I think those parents should get over it.
Awesome job to both Alison and Fort!! I had to scratch my meet due to my injury, but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity in the future.
One of the guys I swim with (who happens to be a world masters record holder in the 200 BR), says that when he swims USA S meets, he swims the prelims only and then immediately scratches himself from the finals so as not to take the place of a kid who dreamed of making finals. Very nice of him I thought. He said he only had one swim per event in him anyway. (He's a dad of some USA S swimmers, so I see he's thought it through.)
Poolrat, how did it go?
Alison
It was fun. I swam the 50 & 100 free and 50 fly in this meet last year too. I bettered last years times in this meet. Here's a short summary of how it went.
Saturday
I swam the 200 free relay, my split was the slowest of the 4 of us but we still placed and it was a good way to warmup for the 50 free.
I swam lifetime best times in the 50 free and 50 back (and placed in the back), making the NQT's for Austin next May in these events.
Sunday
Not quite as fast as Sat. but still some good times.
100 free - Was my 3rd fastest ever. I'm still taking out the 1st 50 too slow. Should go out around 1-2 sec faster. Miissed the NQT by about 1.1 sec.
100 back - Much better (by 4 sec) than what I did in a Masters meet last week and my 2nd best ever. I split fairly even (about 2.5 sec diff) but again, I need to go out faster for the first 50.
50 fly - My 4th fastest swim but again about 1.1 sec out of the NQT.
...but Kirk that means little Timmy or Suzy might not be the all conquering hero that gets to be number 1 that their parent's have raised them to believe they deserve...we're all winners...they are no wrong answers...there is no such thing as negative consequences...ad nostradamusum
:shakeshead:Soooo true!! This is a pet peeve of mine.... You'd be surprised how many parents actually have this mindset. They want little Johnny to be on the "A" relay despite the fact that he is the slowest swimmer on the team. "But he gets discouraged because he never gets a ribbon." :rolleyes: What will this generation of kids do when they go out into the world and realize that they have to actually work to get anything from life?
Our local little league coach (volunteer) got threatened with a lawsuit last summer for telling a kid he had to play with the junior league. We live in a resort community... and in the summer we get all types of people...with lots of money...and lots of self righteous attitudes.
This particular couple (the wife being a New York city prosecutor) gave the coach a five day notice to provide a written explanation on why their child couldn't play with the varsity team or she was suing him. (The answer was simple...he didn't make the cut, and there were way too many kids that were better than him.)
It turns out...The varsity team had a select group of kids who were going to be paid a visit by a couple of major league players who offered to give pointers and throw the ball around. The coach had no choice but to give into her demands or she was dragging him to court.
Our local little league coach (volunteer) got threatened with a lawsuit last summer for telling a kid he had to play with the junior league. We live in a resort community... and in the summer we get all types of people...with lots of money...and lots of self righteous attitudes.
This particular couple (the wife being a New York city prosecutor) gave the coach a five day notice to provide a written explanation on why their child couldn't play with the varsity team or she was suing him. (The answer was simple...he didn't make the cut, and there were way too many kids that were better than him.)
It turns out...The varsity team had a select group of kids who were going to be paid a visit by a couple of major league players who offered to give pointers and throw the ball around. The coach had no choice but to give into her demands or she was dragging him to court.
:mooning: I would like to think that such a lawsuit would have made this prosecuter the laughing stock of the courtroom, but most likely she would have won and this volunteer coach would have lost his life savings.
The coach had no choice but to give into her demands or she was dragging him to court.
And when their kid grows up thinking everything will be handed to them and they can't control him they'll wonder why.
It was fun. I swam the 50 & 100 free and 50 fly in this meet last year too. I bettered last years times in this meet. Here's a short summary of how it went.
Good job Poolrat!!!
Alison
I actually plan on swimming in the PVS January Open. Should be interesting. Though the 50 and 100 free are on different days so that's not so great. And they don't have 50 Fly :-)
"Dude, I'm racing my DAD"
Paul
