I was honestly on the fence about whether I wanted to swim the breaststroke 3 pack or do freestyle at my next meet in a couple of weeks. So I ended up signing up for 5 events today and mailing it in, knowing that I will scratch at least one, maybe 2, events depending on how I feel at the meet.
Are scratchers evil like sandbaggers? I know I had a lot of fun at the last meet with a couple of very close races with people right next to me, but honestly the only times empty lanes have bothered me have been when I've been in 1 and the only other entrant was in 8 or 6. Feels like a weird time trial when that happens. But just an empty lane or 2, no biggie. Does it bug the race directors? Why do I feel vaguely guilty about it? Should I just kick an extra 200 as penance tomorrow (I hate kicking) and forget all about it? Or is it not even something to worry about?
I think it depends on who you ask. Scratchers don't bother me. If somebody is tired from an event or wants to swim a PR in another event, I can certainly understand why that person would scratch. I also understand the logic of putting down NT if you want to swim an event in the earlier heats and get more rest before another event.
What I don't understand is why people put down a time 2 or 3 seconds slower in a 50 if they have swam it in the past year. What the strategy behind that tactic is escapes me. I can't figure out if those that do it are just really humble or are not confident in their ability to go their recent time.
I think it depends on who you ask. Scratchers don't bother me. If somebody is tired from an event or wants to swim a PR in another event, I can certainly understand why that person would scratch. I also understand the logic of putting down NT if you want to swim an event in the earlier heats and get more rest before another event.
What I don't understand is why people put down a time 2 or 3 seconds slower in a 50 if they have swam it in the past year. What the strategy behind that tactic is escapes me. I can't figure out if those that do it are just really humble or are not confident in their ability to go their recent time.
