I selected Portland for you :D because I think it important to place yourself where you want to be. If you want to swim with top-notch swimmers in a beautiful facility where you will be on your mettle, go for it! You will learn more, it will be a richer, more meaningful experience overall, and the challenge is right.
:cheerleader:
All your friends will be there.
The food is better.
What better time to swim in that gorgeous pool?
Regards, VB
I voted for Portland. But I'm a pool snob. Swimming in a hairball-filled tank sounds awful (although the view is lovely). But, on the other hand, you could practice your 50s in a LC pool, however polluted, and there is merit in logging some practice before Nats. I wish there were more long course meets. (In fact, I'd be perfectly happy to ditch SCY and just swim LCM and SCM!)
How's the spouse on the meet issues? I have to be selective in my meets as I have the spouse rolling eyes at the mere mention of meets problem.
Vive's post, as usual, is spot on. But I think there will still be a few very good swimmers at Hains Point, despite the fact that the pool is so stinky.
Don't wait until you have traveled all the way to Portland to practice racing. Practice racing this weekend even if the pool is "not very clean," so that you will get your money's and time's worth out of your trip to Portland. You have to practice racing to be ready to race, but the only way to practice racing is to race.
I would choose them both. Then whichever one was scheduled first would be it.
I think it is less about pristine memories and more about getting as much practice (race practice and LCM race practice at that - as you know it is a whole different beast from SCM ).
Unless of course, you feel that your health may be in danger if you swim in that over-warm, not-so-clean, local facility.
Or is it an 'either/or' choice? In that case, go for Nats.
i'm with matteo. LCM is a different beast. the pool may be crappy and the water will be warm after the heat wave we're supposed to be getting, but that will make your experience at nationals that much more enjoyable. you'll be happy to have gotten a bit of LCM experience.
-fro
Paul,
Gotta go with the dinky meet in the crappy pool as a tuneup for LCM Nats. Why travel across the country to gridge race Paul Smith and Chris Stevenson and not bring your "A" game? I say ditch the 400 and blast some fast 50s!
If you are a natural at racing, just do LC Nats. I personally find it very difficult to "get up" for low key meets. I don't swim as fast yet it takes me a couple of days to recover from it. This impacts my training for the big meet and thus, for me, low key meets are just a waste of time. Also, because my times aren't great, I get down and lose my drive.
If this is the way you are, wait for LC Nationals. If you need to get a time, just get somebody to time you in one event during practice.
