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?
Neither really throws off my day. Scratching annoys me as I have been in heats where 2 or 3 out of 8 are present to race. I feel dumb as it is racing like it means something at my advanced age--I say show up for your races or don't sign up.
Sandbagging is pesky as it can add time to the meet. Here many will enter the distance events with a no-time (presumably so they can get out early) effectively splitting the really slow people between two heats rather than just one. :oldman:
Neither really throws off my day. Scratching annoys me as I have been in heats where 2 or 3 out of 8 are present to race. I feel dumb as it is racing like it means something at my advanced age--I say show up for your races or don't sign up.
Sandbagging is pesky as it can add time to the meet. Here many will enter the distance events with a no-time (presumably so they can get out early) effectively splitting the really slow people between two heats rather than just one. :oldman:
