Just admit it. Almost everyone sandbags from time to time. Look at Ande, entering at 28.9 in the 50 back to have clear water. Bunch of his times look pretty suspect. Peg completely sandbagged the 1000 free at Zones. I entered a coach-approved NT on the 100 IM at Zones and then scratched. Paul Smith is passing on a 100 free duel with evil Smith to save up for his world-record-shattering performance to be in the 200 medley relay. Julie Oplinger sandbagged her 100 fly at Zones. The list could go on forever, so you might as well join the Club.
As for Nats, because of my lack of expertise with sandbagging, I'm over my 25% statistical probability per race of landing in an outside lane.
(Sorry Osterber! :thhbbb:)
Parents
Former Member
I started entering my best times at all masters meets b/c I want a good lane. So that works out well. I've certainly been thrown a couple of times when I'm next to super fast men. . .
Here's the next question. I start swimming meets with the kids. Do I enter my best times (knowing full well that the kids can drop massive amounts of time at any given meet AND they are young and full of energy)? Or, do I sandbag a bit?
I'm going to ask my coach and see what he wants me to do. I'm a bit scared b/c if my worst event is 100 free and I enter my best time of 54.5, I could technically be in heats with girls who go 52 and 53 (I do practice with them - I do well on distance stuff but they kick my butt on sprints for time). Or, say it's a good event of mine - 100 fly - and I'm in there with :55, :56 and :57 gals. That just plain out scares the heck out of me! :dunno::whiteflag:
I started entering my best times at all masters meets b/c I want a good lane. So that works out well. I've certainly been thrown a couple of times when I'm next to super fast men. . .
Here's the next question. I start swimming meets with the kids. Do I enter my best times (knowing full well that the kids can drop massive amounts of time at any given meet AND they are young and full of energy)? Or, do I sandbag a bit?
I'm going to ask my coach and see what he wants me to do. I'm a bit scared b/c if my worst event is 100 free and I enter my best time of 54.5, I could technically be in heats with girls who go 52 and 53 (I do practice with them - I do well on distance stuff but they kick my butt on sprints for time). Or, say it's a good event of mine - 100 fly - and I'm in there with :55, :56 and :57 gals. That just plain out scares the heck out of me! :dunno::whiteflag:
