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!
I like Midas's ideas, and think I'll follow that advice. For some reason, whenever I've done meets, I've always done the max number of events. Especially after running 10+ miles that morning, 3 events will be more than enough.
As to the desert heat, I think I'm fairly adjusted. I've lived here for 13 years. I've been swimming at various times (6am, noon, 6pm) over the past few weeks, while trying to do my runs in the morning when it is still tolerable out (as tolerable as it will get).
I just got a call from a co-worker who is doing the meet, but only the 50 free. He doesn't swim with a team. He was trying to get me to do the 50 free with him, but he has a 0:26 ish seed time. I told him I'd embarrass myself if I tried to do that event with a seed time anywhere close (I'd be more like 0:33). This way we'll be able to cheer for each other.
Awesome! Good luck. Let us know how it works out.
I like Midas's ideas, and think I'll follow that advice. For some reason, whenever I've done meets, I've always done the max number of events. Especially after running 10+ miles that morning, 3 events will be more than enough.
As to the desert heat, I think I'm fairly adjusted. I've lived here for 13 years. I've been swimming at various times (6am, noon, 6pm) over the past few weeks, while trying to do my runs in the morning when it is still tolerable out (as tolerable as it will get).
I just got a call from a co-worker who is doing the meet, but only the 50 free. He doesn't swim with a team. He was trying to get me to do the 50 free with him, but he has a 0:26 ish seed time. I told him I'd embarrass myself if I tried to do that event with a seed time anywhere close (I'd be more like 0:33). This way we'll be able to cheer for each other.
Awesome! Good luck. Let us know how it works out.
