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:)
Former Member
Does swimming in the last heat of the 1000 FR b/c you miss the positive check-in and beating a bunch of 70 year olds count as sandbagging?
Mea culpa... :weightlifter:
Perhaps with the advent of online results databases the use of swimmer supplied seed times will become obsolete, or the "average sandbagging" and actual recent times will be included in psych or heat sheets.
Perhaps with the advent of online results databases the use of swimmer supplied seed times will become obsolete, or the "average sandbagging" and actual recent times will be included in psych or heat sheets.
This might not be feasible or practical under all circumstances. What about a swimmer back from surgery, recovering from major injury (or a herniated disc and recently out of a wheelchair and crutches) or just out of hospital from gunwounds inflicted by jealous husbands?
Will we have to present doctors' notes or police reports to have the database seed times adjusted?
Well, and, what about swimmers who aren't seriously injured but have had a lengthy layoff? I'm entering times for an upcoming meet that are well off what I swam in the same events two years ago. I haven't competed in two years and haven't trained as serious as I'd like leading up to this meet. I put in some slow times in hopes not to humiliate myself since I can only assume I'm no where near what I was two years ago. But, I'll feel bad if what I swim is much faster than what I entered.
Actually, let me amend that. Yeah, I'd feel great if I swam faster than I what I hoped for, but I'll feel bad if others think I "sandbagged" on purpose!
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:
This might not be feasible or practical under all circumstances. What about a swimmer back from surgery, recovering from major injury (or a herniated disc and recently out of a wheelchair and crutches) or just out of hospital from gunwounds inflicted by jealous husbands?
Will we have to present doctors' notes or police reports to have the database seed times adjusted?
This would suggest that the option of merely noting the historical record might be preferable. If you seeded with the swimmer supplied seed time but printed the database generated seed time next to it people might be less tempted to routinely sandbag.
Actually, let me amend that. Yeah, I'd feel great if I swam faster than I what I hoped for, but I'll feel bad if others think I "sandbagged" on purpose!
It's masters swimming...let them think what they want to think. :)
There is sandbagging and then there is entering with a time that you think is realistic. For example if I get a good time in the 500 free at king county aquatic center (where 2007 nationals were), I wouldn't necessarily expect to duplicate that time at a shallow YMCA pool with no gutters and crummy lane lines. So far I have always entered with my fastest masters time, or estimated time if I don't have one yet.
So far I have always entered with my fastest masters time,
That is very respectable, but I find that sandbagging is the norm around here. I generally take my best time and add a bit. In a 100 I'll add 2-3 seconds. In a 50, maybe a second or two. 200? Probably 4-5 seconds. Interestingly enough, I have always swam PB's but often times fail to finish first in the heat. Clearly, others are sandbagging FAR more than I am. Of course, at my level, getting a choice lane assignment and clear water are the least of my worries.
