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?
Allen - Thanks for the encouragement. I'll need all the luck I can get!
Stillwater - You make a good point I never thought of in regards to calm water. I know that USAT will not allow a race to count towards your ranking points if you swim in the elite wave, the wave that always goes first in a big triathlon where money prizes are up for grabs. The rationale is that you have an undue advantage if you start in calm water.
If I really had the talent to set a freestyle record, I'd talk a recent Auburn grad into registering for masters, swimming in the lane next to me at a meet, and letting me draft. We could both put down untouchable times to guarantee that we would end up next to each other. Then, I would draft, draft, draft. Of course, the Auburn grad would have to remember to ride the lane rope the whole time. :angel:
Allen - Thanks for the encouragement. I'll need all the luck I can get!
Stillwater - You make a good point I never thought of in regards to calm water. I know that USAT will not allow a race to count towards your ranking points if you swim in the elite wave, the wave that always goes first in a big triathlon where money prizes are up for grabs. The rationale is that you have an undue advantage if you start in calm water.
If I really had the talent to set a freestyle record, I'd talk a recent Auburn grad into registering for masters, swimming in the lane next to me at a meet, and letting me draft. We could both put down untouchable times to guarantee that we would end up next to each other. Then, I would draft, draft, draft. Of course, the Auburn grad would have to remember to ride the lane rope the whole time. :angel:
