Well, I've been procrastinating for weeks about this, and now it is either register by 5 PM today, or not.... There's a chance the meet could get canceled for low registration, so every swimmer counts.
I'm considering swimming in a meet this Sunday:
www.azlmsc.org/.../2008SunDevilLCM.pdf
I'm not new to doing swim meets, but my last meet was some time ago, in either 2002 or 2003 (whenever my team last hosted the USMS SCY nationals). I kind of got in a rut around that time, and wanted to work on some things, both in and out of the pool. One missed meet became 2, a year turned into more....
So my plan, if I do the meet, would be to still get up around 5am and do my long run (10 to 14 miles) before the heat sets in. I'd finish around 7am, do my abs, have a light breakfast, and head to the meet in time for a light swim warmup. The first events are the 1500 fr, 800 fr, and 400 IM, so I could easily show up while those are going on, and just use the warm-up pool as time permits. I know this isn't ideal, but I've been traveling a bit lately, and have already missed some runs, and don't want to miss this Sunday.
My swimming training hasn't really focused on anything lately. I get in a distance lane and do what the coach says. But based on the meet schedule, here are 4 events I would consider doing:
#1: 100 br OR 200 fr (these are back-to-back)
#2: 50 br OR 100 fr (again back-to-back)
#3: 400 fr
#4: 50 fr OR 200 br
When I used to do meets, my *** was half-decent for my age group. Not earth-shattering, but I would usually do a 200 br (especially long course) simply because hardly anyone else did it and I could get points for my team. I did the 200 br at the last meet I swam (SCY) in about 2:38.
My free times aren't great, but I've made personal improvements lately. I can do about a 1:05 for a 100 SCY free. Maybe a 2:18 for a 200 SCY free. I'm not a 50 free sprinter, so would lean more towards the 200 ***, even if I end up doing it in 3:30 (I would think closer to 3:10, but really don't know). I've done a 400 SCY free in just under 4:50.
So my questions here....
* Should I do the meet?
* If yes, what events?
* Then, what kind of seed times should I put, so I get in a decent race?
Let me know if you need more info to help. Thanks!
You deserve and answer so here's my :2cents:: Of course you should swim in the meet! I find that swimming in meets is the best thing to keep me motivated to keep coming to the pool. Go have fun!
If you feel like you're in good shape (based on training with the distance swimmers) and that you enjoy swimming distance breaststroke, then I'd go for:
100 BR over the 200 FR--Based on the fact that you enjoy breaststroke
100 FR over 50 BR--50 BR is not really an event for breaststrokers. It's just another sprint. I'd opt for the 100 FR to give you some variety
200 BR over 50 FR--This sounds like an event you're comfortable with. It's truly a painful event, but if you like it then you should do it.
Nothing over 400 FR--The more events you compete in, the more worn down you will be. No reason to go nuts and swim this thing. It will sap all of your energy. You've already got a full dance card for a one-day event... My guess is that you won't be fully recovered from the 100 FR/50 BR by the time this comes up and you almost definitely won't recover from this in time for the 200BR. If you really want to do this one, then I'd skip both the 100 FR and the 200 BR and swap in the 50s
You deserve and answer so here's my :2cents:: Of course you should swim in the meet! I find that swimming in meets is the best thing to keep me motivated to keep coming to the pool. Go have fun!
If you feel like you're in good shape (based on training with the distance swimmers) and that you enjoy swimming distance breaststroke, then I'd go for:
100 BR over the 200 FR--Based on the fact that you enjoy breaststroke
100 FR over 50 BR--50 BR is not really an event for breaststrokers. It's just another sprint. I'd opt for the 100 FR to give you some variety
200 BR over 50 FR--This sounds like an event you're comfortable with. It's truly a painful event, but if you like it then you should do it.
Nothing over 400 FR--The more events you compete in, the more worn down you will be. No reason to go nuts and swim this thing. It will sap all of your energy. You've already got a full dance card for a one-day event... My guess is that you won't be fully recovered from the 100 FR/50 BR by the time this comes up and you almost definitely won't recover from this in time for the 200BR. If you really want to do this one, then I'd skip both the 100 FR and the 200 BR and swap in the 50s
