I did a cool survey last week with my age-groupers; I asked them all to tell me what they thought about when they swim in practice, and what they think about when they swim in a meet. I got answers ranging from boyfriends/girlfriends, homework, and music.
So, I'm curious....what do all of you think about when you swim?
Seems like most folks have written about what they think when they are at practice. I can't figure out what to think when I race. I *know* I'm supposed to think something when I'm standing on the blocks before the 800 or 1000 or 400 IM but I have no idea what. Usually it's "At least it will be quiet when I'm finally in the water" or "WooHoo I'll have a lane to myself," but I don't have a song and my strategy of keeping it steady, not taking it out too fast, usually fails in my body (i.e., it still hurts), even if I do it in my swim. That's probably why they call it a race, however.
My best race thought most recently was "This sure hurts (400 free); oh well, so it does, look at those tiles on the bottom, keep swimming." That helped. I know I am not supposed to curse swimming but that is sometimes what happens during races. I think I must get tense at races because I don't swim all that much faster than at practice, yet it usually hurts a lot more. I've never had a "zone" race (no pain, just flow); keep waiting for one of those!
Seems like most folks have written about what they think when they are at practice. I can't figure out what to think when I race. I *know* I'm supposed to think something when I'm standing on the blocks before the 800 or 1000 or 400 IM but I have no idea what. Usually it's "At least it will be quiet when I'm finally in the water" or "WooHoo I'll have a lane to myself," but I don't have a song and my strategy of keeping it steady, not taking it out too fast, usually fails in my body (i.e., it still hurts), even if I do it in my swim. That's probably why they call it a race, however.
My best race thought most recently was "This sure hurts (400 free); oh well, so it does, look at those tiles on the bottom, keep swimming." That helped. I know I am not supposed to curse swimming but that is sometimes what happens during races. I think I must get tense at races because I don't swim all that much faster than at practice, yet it usually hurts a lot more. I've never had a "zone" race (no pain, just flow); keep waiting for one of those!
