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 guess this is why sometimes I prefer 5ks and mass starts on triathlons. I do my best times in a close race. In those races, there's no seed times, just a head-to-head race. What is the point in having seed times if they become meaningless?
Sure it is masters and people can do and should do what they want. It just makes it more fun for me if I truly get to race somebody. So for those that do put down such slow times, what is the strategy? Maybe I need to start doing it.
P.S. If somebody does not want to share a strategy, loosen up. It's just masters
I guess this is why sometimes I prefer 5ks and mass starts on triathlons. I do my best times in a close race. In those races, there's no seed times, just a head-to-head race. What is the point in having seed times if they become meaningless?
Sure it is masters and people can do and should do what they want. It just makes it more fun for me if I truly get to race somebody. So for those that do put down such slow times, what is the strategy? Maybe I need to start doing it.
P.S. If somebody does not want to share a strategy, loosen up. It's just masters
